Cardoon

Description

It is also known as Artichoke Thistle and was an old Victorian favourite used as a blanched vegetable like celery. It is a theatrical plant with striking silvery, thistle-like foliage which can be cut and, with careful preparation, the stalks make an unusual additional vegetable. In summer tall flower stems appear with fat thistle buds, like small globe artichokes and these open to large purple thistle-like flowers which are very attractive to bees, and left uncut make a feature in the winter.