Cynara Species, Artichoke Thistle, Cardoon (Cynara cardunculus)

Cardoon, Artichoke Thistle (Cynara cardunculus) flower shown in late April growing at the San Antonio Botanical Garden.

Cardoon near Adelaide in South Australia, where it is a troublesome weed, December 2007

UBC Botanical Garden

A huge thistledown seed head captured in mid March down the same country road

July-2015--Telly's Greenhouse, Troy, MI



Photo taken August 2008


Winter foliage.


In order to save the seed, you should bag the seedhead and allow it to fully mature. Otherwise, the seeds all fly off one by one.

Just the slightest gust of wind will catch the chaff of this seed and carry it off!

cardoon blooming at Southmede, Warkworth, Northumberland UK


May 29th in Lenoir City, TN


Picture shot in the wild (introduced species).

Young plant

Cynara cardunculus. The sp. that has naturalized in Chile has very spiny leaves.

Cynara cardunculus. Beautiful 'neon-blue' flowers (Santiago, Chile)

Cynara cardunculus growing at the roadside (Santiago, Chile)

Cardoon in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, where it has become a problem weed, December 1990

Cardoon in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, where it has become a problem weed, December 1990

Cardoon in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, where it has become a problem weed, December 1990

Cardoon in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, where it has become a problem weed, December 1990

Cardoon, Artichoke Thistle (Cynara cardunculus) just abour ready to bloom ... shown at the end of April.

Cardoon, Artichoke Thistle (Cynara cardunculus) just about ready to open its blooms ... shown in late April

Cardoon, Artichoke Thistle (Cynara cardunculus) bloom as seen backlit with afternoon sunlight ... shown in late April

cardoon bloom on 05/01/06. so pretty outside, resisting the urge to cut the flower and bring indoors.



Cardoon near Adelaide in South Australia, where it is a troublesome weed, December 2007


Galahs feeding on the seeds of Cardoons near Adelaide in South Australia, and helping to reduce the weed problem, December 2007

Fresh seeds October 2008

Fresh seeds October 2008

Late July, first few months in the garden.

Cardoon germinating in a cold spring about a month after sowing, Mid May.

Cardoon with true leaves about a week after starting to germinate, mid May.

Cardoon from seed, about a month after germinating, mid June.

Cardoon from seed (during a generally cool summer), about 2.5 months from germination.

Cardoon, Artichoke Thistle (Cynara cardunculus) flowering

VanDusen Botanical Garden

VanDusen Botanical Garden

VanDusen Botanical Garden

UBC Botanical Garden

UBC Botanical Garden

A young Artichoke Thistle down a country side road between Paeroa and Thames, New Zealand in mid November

Detail of the thistle leaves

The stalky base of the thistle

Budding thistle heads

A group of tall Artichoke Thistles in the mid January Hamilton City Gardens, New Zealand

Detail of the various stages of the thistle heads

National Botanic Gardens of Ireland Photo courtesy of Karl Gercens. Copyright Karl Gercens, an expert horticulturalist at Longwood Gardens. http://www.karlgercens.com/

July-2015--Telly's Greenhouse, Troy, MI

July-2015--Telly's Greenhouse, Troy, MI

July-2015--Telly's Greenhouse, Troy, MI
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About
Cynara Species, Artichoke Thistle, Cardoon
Cynara cardunculus
Type: | Herbs |
Height: | 6-8 ft. (1.8-2.4 m) |
Conditions: | Zone 7-9, Full Sun |