One of the most effective ways to utilize cardoon in your garden is as a focal point in beds and borders or large containers. If you have the space, plant a cluster of three cardoon plants to maximize its eye-catching appearance. See more plants with intriguing foliage.
Cardoon Care Must-Knows
Cardoon is a relative of the artichoke and native to Mediterranean regions where it grows as a perennial. In much of North America, however, it’s enjoyed as an annual. While hardy in Zones 7 to 9, it appreciates mild summers and winters, such as the Pacific Northwest. In hotter areas, like the Deep South, it’s not long-lived. If you reside where cardoon can behave as a perennial, it may be evergreen and offer outstanding winter interest thanks to its dramatic foliage. Whether grown as an annual or perennial, cardoon thrives in full sun (at least 8 hours of direct sun per day) and well-drained soil. Because of its impressive taproot, cardoon is quite drought-tolerant, making this plant delightfully low maintenance in gardens and landscapes. It is also quite adaptable to a variety of soil types, including sandy soil. But, like most annuals, it grows best in rich soil that has an abundance of organic matter. Liberally adding compost, well-rotted manure, or other materials before planting will help produce bigger, healthier cardoon plants. Cardoon typically doesn’t require any pruning. You can remove old leaves that get damaged and take away from the plant’s eye-catching appearance. Cardoon can be an invasive pest in some regions, such as parts of California, if the flowers are allowed to set seed. If you love cardoon, you’ll love these other silver-leaf plants.
