Cynara' Wild Artichoke (Artichoke Thistle)

ℹ This striking perennial heirloom is grown as an ornamental artichoke but its flower buds, leaf stalks and stems are edible. The jury is in; yes, wild artichokes taste GOOD. The heart is firmer and more shallow than the artichokes you find at a farmer's market, and the leaves sharper, but the meat is tasty. It grows at least 1.2m (4’) tall for a stunning Mediterranean look with large silvery-green, deeply-cut leaves and thistle-like flowers of rich, royal purple. Its flowers are highly attractive to bees and other pollinators. Thick stems, steamed and seasoned, are an old-world treat. The unopened flower buds make unusual cut flowers.