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Cardoon
Cynara cardunculus
Cardoon is a magnificent perennial native to southern Europe, with spiny, gray-green foliage and purple, thistle-like flowers that grow to five feet. The French first grew it as a vegetable, and Quakers brought it to America in the 1790s. Although related to Globe Artichokes - which Jefferson grew throughout his life - the edible partpart of Cardoon is its thick leaf stalk, which can be blanched with mounded soil.
Visit Monticello’s Online Shop to check for seeds or plants of Cardoon.Growth Type:
PerennialColor(s):
PurpleHardiness Zones:
Zone 1, Zone 2, Zone 3, Zone 4, Zone 5, Zone 6, Zone 7, Zone 8, Zone 9, Zone 10Location at Monticello:
Vegetable GardenPlanting Conditions:
Full SunBlooming History:
July 7, 2001 to August 9, 2001June 14, 2002 to August 24, 2002May 23, 2003 to July 14, 2003May 25, 2004 to July 19, 2004May 27, 2005 to July 20, 2005July 11, 2006 to August 17, 2006July 6, 2007 to July 20, 2007June 28, 2008 to August 1, 2008May 29, 2009 to August 4, 2009July 7, 2011 to July 15, 2011July 10, 2014 to July 30, 2014July 14, 2018 to August 15, 2018July 6, 2020 to August 4, 2020