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Key characteristics

Family: Asteraceae
Height: 3 to 5 feet
Width: 3 to 4 feet
Flower color: Purple thistle-like blooms
Foliage color: Gray-green, deeply lobed leaves
Bloom time: Mid-summer to late summer
Light: Full sun
Water: Moderate; prefers well-drained soil, drought-tolerant once established
Maintenance: Low; cut back in fall after flowering
Growing zone: USDA zones 7 to 9
Wildlife: Attracts bees, butterflies, and other pollinators

Perennials

Cynara cardunculus

Globe Artichoke

Cynara cardunculus, commonly known as globe artichoke, is a striking ornamental and edible perennial known for its bold, gray-green foliage and impressive thistle-like flowers. Blooming in mid to late summer, it produces tall, spiky flower heads with vibrant purple, tubular florets that resemble large artichokes. These dramatic flowers rise above the deeply lobed, arching leaves, creating a stunning architectural presence in the garden.

Native to the Mediterranean region, Cynara cardunculus has long been valued both for its ornamental appeal and its use in cooking, with its young stems and leaf stalks traditionally harvested for culinary purposes.

Light

Full sun

Water

Moderate; prefers well-drained soil, drought-tolerant once established

Bloom time

Mid-summer to late summer

Find this plant

Works well in

Borders
Sun Gardens
Pollinator Gardens
Waterwise Gardens
Cut Flower Gardens

Companion plants

Bee balm · Yarrow · Ornamental grasses · Garden phlox · Black-eyed Susans · Daylilies

Design tip

Summer flowers carry the middle of the season, so place it where the bed needs color once spring bulbs fade. Give it open sun and room to fill out, and repeat it in threes or fives so the planting reads as one sweep instead of scattered dots.