Improved Green Globe Artichoke
Cynara scolymus 'Improved Green Globe'
Harvest your own tender artichokes! Big flower buds that form at the tops of stalks may be cut for eating. If not cut, buds open to spectacular purple, thistle-like flowers, great for arrangements.
| Botanical Pronunciation: | SIN-a-ra SKOL-i-mus |
| Key feature: | Edible |
| Plant type: | Perennial |
| Garden styles: | Contemporary, Mediterranean |
| Deciduous/evergreen: | Herbaceous |
| Cold hardiness zones: | 6 - 11 |
| Light needs: | Full sun |
| Sunset climate zones: | 8, 9, 14 - 24 |
| Water Needs: | Needs regular watering - weekly, or more often in extreme heat. |
| Average landscape size: | Fast growing to irregular, fountain-like form to 3 to 5 ft. high and wide. |
| Growth rate: | Fast |
| Flower attributes: | Flowers for Cutting, Showy Flowers |
| Special features: | Attracts Butterflies, Dramatic Foliage Color, Edible, Waterwise |
| Landscape uses: | Container, Seacoast Exposure |
| Flower color: | Purple |
| Blooms: | Summer |
| Foliage color: | Gray-green |
| Item no.: | 3112 |
| Retailers for this plant: |
Care Information
Follow a regular watering schedule during the first growing season to establish a deep, extensive root system. Watering can be reduced after establishment. Feed with a general purpose fertilizer before new growth begins in spring.
Design Ideas
This plant is both ornamental and edible, so it may belong in the veggie garden or the landscape. Artichoke is thistle like and therefore is perfect in the Mediterranean style landscape. Unique foliage makes it visually interesting in the foliage color based landscape. An exceptional container plant for porch or patio with exceptional architectural value. Add to modern landscapes for this reason. It is often found in the traditional herb garden, parterre and potager.
Companion Plants
Group artichoke with mediterraneans such as Provance French Lavender, (Lavandula x intermedia 'Provence') or more heat loving Winter Bee Spanish Lavender, (Lavandula stoechas 'Winter Bee'). It's quite beautiful in cool compositions with Blushing Knock Out Rose, (Rosa x 'Radyod') and Butterfly Blue Pincushion Flower, (Scabiosa columbaria 'Butterfly Blue').
History
Though it's true point of origin is lost in antiquity, it is believed the artichoke came from Ethiopia before it spread throughout the eastern Mediterranean. It may have evolved from C. cardunculus, a type of very large milk thistle with edible stems. Plants were grown and consumed by the Romans but fell out of favor until the 16th century when it came into commercial cultivation in warmer regions of the New World.
Lore
The edible part of this plant is the immature flower bud harvested at is fullest but before it has begun to open.
Harvest your own tender artichokes! Big flower buds that form at the tops of stalks may be cut for eating. If not cut, buds open to spectacular purple, thistle-like flowers, great for arrangements.
Care Information
Follow a regular watering schedule during the first growing season to establish a deep, extensive root system. Watering can be reduced after establishment. Feed with a general purpose fertilizer before new growth begins in spring.
Design Ideas
This plant is both ornamental and edible, so it may belong in the veggie garden or the landscape. Artichoke is thistle like and therefore is perfect in the Mediterranean style landscape. Unique foliage makes it visually interesting in the foliage color based landscape. An exceptional container plant for porch or patio with exceptional architectural value. Add to modern landscapes for this reason. It is often found in the traditional herb garden, parterre and potager.
Companion Plants
Group artichoke with mediterraneans such as Provance French Lavender, (Lavandula x intermedia 'Provence') or more heat loving Winter Bee Spanish Lavender, (Lavandula stoechas 'Winter Bee'). It's quite beautiful in cool compositions with Blushing Knock Out Rose, (Rosa x 'Radyod') and Butterfly Blue Pincushion Flower, (Scabiosa columbaria 'Butterfly Blue').
History
Though it's true point of origin is lost in antiquity, it is believed the artichoke came from Ethiopia before it spread throughout the eastern Mediterranean. It may have evolved from C. cardunculus, a type of very large milk thistle with edible stems. Plants were grown and consumed by the Romans but fell out of favor until the 16th century when it came into commercial cultivation in warmer regions of the New World.
Lore
The edible part of this plant is the immature flower bud harvested at is fullest but before it has begun to open.
| Botanical Pronunciation: | SIN-a-ra SKOL-i-mus |
| Key feature: | Edible |
| Plant type: | Perennial |
| Garden styles: | Contemporary, Mediterranean |
| Deciduous/evergreen: | Herbaceous |
| Cold hardiness zones: | 6 - 11 |
| Light needs: | Full sun |
| Sunset climate zones: | 8, 9, 14 - 24 |
| Water Needs: | Needs regular watering - weekly, or more often in extreme heat. |
| Average landscape size: | Fast growing to irregular, fountain-like form to 3 to 5 ft. high and wide. |
| Growth rate: | Fast |
| Flower attributes: | Flowers for Cutting, Showy Flowers |
| Special features: | Attracts Butterflies, Dramatic Foliage Color, Edible, Waterwise |
| Landscape uses: | Container, Seacoast Exposure |
| Flower color: | Purple |
| Blooms: | Summer |
| Foliage color: | Gray-green |
| Item no.: | 3112 |
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Monrovia soil products
The best fertilizer to use with this plant is Vegetable & Tomato.view soil products
