Cynara cardunculus Scolymus Group
Globe artichoke
Also known as Cynara scolymus
- Height × spread
- 2m × 1m
- Position
- Full sun
- Hardiness
- Cold to -15C (RHS H5)
- Flowers
- Summer, Autumn
Availability
Please ask in store about availability
Many plants are seasonal. Call 01234 567890 to check current stock.
About this plant
This mighty, 2m (7ft), plant has lovely divided blue-green foliage in the form of huge, arching, pinnate leaves that are softly jagged. It produces a great flowering spike followed by the edible globe artichoke. If you grow it to eat the artichoke, you will miss out on its crowning glory: a crew cut of purple hair that turns into a fluffy seed head. The development of the flower, with its centre pushing up through fat conical leaves, swelling all the while until it bursts out in a purple haze, is a fascination in itself. (If you are petite you may need a stepladder to closely observe this event!) </P><P CLASS="desc">
- Flower colour
- Purple
- Foliage colour
- Blue
- Stem colour
- Grey
- Fruit colour
- Beige
- Variegated
- No
- Scent
- No
- Shape
- Column
- Height
- 2m
- Spread
- 1m
- Season of interest
- Summer, Autumn
- Flowers in
- Summer, Autumn
- Evergreen
- Evergreen
- Garden style
- Mediterranean garden, Herb garden, Exotic garden, Cottage garden
- Sun or shade
- Likes full sun
- Soil type
- Chalk, Gravelly soil, Loam (normal), Sandy soil
- Soil pH
- All types
- Drainage
- Well drained soil
- Hardiness
- Cold to -15C (RHS H5)
- Borders & containers
- Borders
- Use for
- Rabbit resistant, Bee attraction
- Hazards
- Yes, leaves are prickly
- Pet safe
- Yes – listed in our pet-safe plants
AutumnNow
Autumn - late · Outdoors
Apply a protective mulch
Protect the crown of the plant in winter in areas that are prone to frost and cold. For short term protection a fleece can be used, otherwise fill mesh sacks with masses of straw and secure them over the plant's crown.
The 'traditional method' is to put wire or other netting over the plant, layer plenty of straw on top of this and then secure the whole with more netting.
Spring
Spring-Autumn · Outdoors
Water during dry periods
For plants in the ground, when there has been little or no rain for a period of 7-10 days and the soil is dry, give it a deep watering and repeat weekly until there is a downpour of rain. Check plants in pots more frequently, especially in hot weather.
Spring - early-mid · Planting
Divide when too large
The plant can be divided if it becomes too large or another plant is required. This may involve physically dividing the clump in two, removing offsets or small bulbs or dividing rhizomes. The new plants can be grown in pots or planted in the ground.
Summer
Summer - early · Outdoors
Apply slow release fertiliser
Apply a slow release fertiliser which is spread around the root area of the plants soon after they have come into growth. (Or apply a liquid feed at regular intervals throughout the growing season.)
This is a simple way to provide a nutrient boost as a single annual procedure.