Cynara cardunculus 'Porto Spineless'

Up close, one can see that 'Porto Spineless' cardoon is clearly not spineless but it's a much less prickly version than its cousins, with gorgeous silvery blue foliage and thistle-like flowers late in the season. Although hardy to zero degrees, it may be better to regard it as an annual here in the Pacific NW, as it doesn't like soggy roots and could well rot out over the winter if planted in poorly draining soil. That said, this cardoon would be quite the statement plant in a sunny summer garden if grown in a large container, by itself or with other summer blooming annuals. 'Porto Spineless' easily grows two to four feet tall and almost as wide, and would be fabulous as back-of-the-border show-offs.  
FYI, the thistle-like flowers are not really edible like globe artichokes, but the stems of cardoons may be if handled correctly. For those willing to sacrifice looks for food, tie burlap or paper around the stems when the plant is about 3 feet tall (a tactic known as blanching), then harvest the whole stem down to the ground about four to six weeks later. This allegedly tenderizes the stem which can then be pared, cut into small rounds, and steamed or boiled until crisp-tender.
 

Common Name: Cardoon

Plant Type: Perennial

Mature Size: 3 - 4 feet tall and wide

Growth Rate: Moderate

Cold Hardiness: 0°

Light:

• Full Sun
• Afternoon Sun

Foliage Color: Blue

Bloom Color: Blue

Bloom Time:

• Summer

Structure: Upright

Characteristics:

• Attracts pollinators
• Cut flower friendly

Photos: Real images, not stock photos

Please Note: When Ground Shipping is selected, plants will be shipped on the following Monday to help maintain the plant quality.