A member of the thistle family, this heirloom vegetable Cynara scolymus steals the show with its large, silvery green foliage and globe-shaped buds that blossom into stunning purple flowers. The artichoke hearts are tender and flavorful! A unique beauty that's as delicious as it is striking. 

Care

Globe artichokes are hardy perennial plants in zones 7 to 10, but can be grown as annuals in colder regions that have a shorter growing season. Consistent water is essential when growing artichokes so aim to maintain a lightly moist soil, particularly during active growth in spring and summer. Drought stressed plants produce fewer and smaller buds. Mulch with straw or shredded leaves to conserve moisture and reduce the need to water.he plants set their buds in mid to late spring and they’re cut back to the ground once production has finished. Globe artichoke plants resprout in autumn and crop again the following spring.

Growth Habit

Plants are highly ornamental, with big, jagged, silvery leaves and tall flower stems topped with large globe-shaped buds that have pointed scales (sepals). The plants are extremely ornamental with spiky, silvery foliage and flower stalks that grow 3 to 5 feet tall. Most varieties yield 6 to 8 artichokes per plant, but some can produce up to 10. If you don’t harvest all the buds on your artichoke plants they’ll open into purple, thistle-like flowers which add bold color to the garden and attract bees and other pollinators. 

Toxicity

Artichokes are healthy for dogs and contain vitamin C, folic acid, potassium, niacin, and lots of antioxidants. These vitamins and minerals help prevent illness and support your dog’s immune system, muscles, metabolism, and more. Artichokes may also help dogs with irritable bowels.