Green Globe Artichoke (Garden Starter Plant)

Heirloom. This improved artichoke is such a pretty plant that it is also sold as an ornamental. Bold, deeply lobed silvery-green leaves grow in a giant rosette that can get 4 feet tall. The fleshy flower buds 2 to 5 inches in diameter borne on a tall stem from the center of the plant are the edible portion. Most artichokes grown commercially in the US come from Monterey County, California, where the weather suits them best. Our transplants should produce artichokes in the first year. If not cut, the buds open to purple thistle-like flowers. Plants are perennial in climates where winter is mild (zones 8 and 9). Cut in late summer before fruits open. Trim spent stalks back to base for new shoots.

• Light:  Full sun to part shade
• Fruit size:  2 to 5 inches
• Days to maturity:  120 days
• Plant spacing:  48 inches apart
• Plant size:  3 to 4 feet tall and 4 feet wide

* Photos and description courtesy of Bonnie Plants.