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Gigante Cardoon*
Cynara cardunculus 'Gigante'
* This is a "special order" plant - contact store for details
Plant Height: 4 feet
Flower Height: 6 feet
Spread: 3 feet
Sunlight:
Hardiness Zone: 7
Other Names: Artichoke Thistle
Description:
Splendid arching silvery, spiny foliage is an architectural delight in the garden; careful when handling the spiny foliage; leaf stalks and midribs are edible if blanched; perfect for containers or along borders
Ornamental Features
Gigante Cardoon features showy violet pincushion flowers rising above the foliage from late spring to early summer. The flowers are excellent for cutting. Its attractive spiny lobed leaves remain gray in color with distinctive silver veins throughout the season.
Landscape Attributes
Gigante Cardoon is an herbaceous perennial with an upright spreading habit of growth. Its relatively fine texture sets it apart from other garden plants with less refined foliage.
This is a high maintenance plant that will require regular care and upkeep, and should be cut back in late fall in preparation for winter. It is a good choice for attracting bees and butterflies to your yard. Gardeners should be aware of the following characteristic(s) that may warrant special consideration;
- Spiny
- Self-Seeding
Gigante Cardoon is recommended for the following landscape applications;
- Accent
- Border Edging
- General Garden Use
- Herb Gardens
Planting & Growing
Gigante Cardoon will grow to be about 4 feet tall at maturity extending to 6 feet tall with the flowers, with a spread of 3 feet. It grows at a medium rate, and under ideal conditions can be expected to live for approximately 10 years. As an herbaceous perennial, this plant will usually die back to the crown each winter, and will regrow from the base each spring. Be careful not to disturb the crown in late winter when it may not be readily seen!
This plant should only be grown in full sunlight. It does best in average to evenly moist conditions, but will not tolerate standing water. It is not particular as to soil pH, but grows best in rich soils. It is highly tolerant of urban pollution and will even thrive in inner city environments, and will benefit from being planted in a relatively sheltered location. Consider applying a thick mulch around the root zone in winter to protect it in exposed locations or colder microclimates. This is a selected variety of a species not originally from North America.
* This is a "special order" plant - contact store for details
Disclaimer - This Plant Finder tool is an online resource representing many of the varieties that we carry over the course of the season, and is intended for informational purposes only. Inventory varies seasonally, so we cannot guarantee that every plant will be in stock at all times - please contact the store directly for availability. It does not include our entire inventory of plants, so be sure to visit our store to see varieties that may not be represented on this list.