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Herbaceous Perennial

Cynara cardunculus Scolymus Group

globe artichoke

Large, architectural perennials up to 1.5m tall and 1m wide, with large, silvery grey-green leaves. Grown for their edible flower buds, but ornamental enough for the flower garden. Green, scaly buds open to thistle-like purple flowers in summer and autumn. Many varieties of globe artichokes are available, varying in plant and bud size and bud colour

Other common names

chards
French artichoke

Synonyms

Cynara scolymus

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Ultimate height

1.5–2.5 metres

Time to ultimate height

2–5 years

Ultimate spread

1–1.5 metres

Chalk

Loam

Sand

Moisture

Well–drained

pH

Acid, Alkaline, Neutral

	Stem	Flower	Foliage	Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Full sun

Aspect

South–facing or West–facing or East–facing

Exposure

Sheltered

Hardiness
Hardiness ratings
All ratings refer to the UK growing conditions unless otherwise stated. Minimum temperature ranges (in degrees C) are shown in brackets
H1a: under glass all year (>15C)
H1b: can be grown outside in the summer (10 - 15)
H1c: can be grown outside in the summer (5 - 10)
H2: tolerant of low temperatures, but not surviving being frozen (1 to 5)
H3: hardy in coastal and relatively mild parts of the UK (-5 to 1)
H4: hardy through most of the UK (-10 to -5)
H5: hardy in most places throughout the UK even in severe winters (-15 to -10)
H6: hardy in all of UK and northern Europe (-20 to -15)
H7: hardy in the severest European continental climates (< -20)

Botanical details

Family: Asteraceae
Native to GB / Ireland: No
Foliage: Deciduous
Habit: Columnar upright
Genus: Cynara are robust thistle-like plants with grey-hairy, pinnately lobed leaves and globose purple flower-heads
Name status: Accepted

How to grow

Cultivation

Grow in fertile, well-drained soil in full sun; shelter from strong winds. In very cold winters apply a dry mulch. For more advice, follow globe-artichokes cultivation

Propagation

Propagate by seed. See sowing vegetable seeds

Suggested planting locations and garden types

Wildlife gardens
Architectural
City and courtyard gardens
Cottage and informal garden
Gravel garden
Cut flowers
Wall side borders
Flower borders and beds

Pruning

Cut down in autumn when cropping is over

Pests

May be susceptible to snails, slugs and blackfly (black aphid) when young

Diseases

Generally disease-free

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