Last edited on November 30, 2025. View history

Cardoon

Cynara cardunculus
Also known as artichoke thistle (EN) cardone (EN) cardoni (EN) carduni (EN) cardi (EN)

How to sow cardoon: Direct seed indoors, transplant seedlings outside after hardening off

Sun requirement for cardoon: Plant in Full Sun

The Cardoon, or Artichoke Thistle, is a herbaceous, perennial thistle-like plant in the Daisy (Asteraceae) family. It is a naturally occurring species of which the Globe artichoke is a cultivar. The wild Cardoon has hairy, spiny leaves and spiny violet flowers. It is adapted to semi-arid climates and is a weed in California and Australia. It's white flower buds, inner white stalks, and root can be eaten. It can be used as a vegetarian source of enzymes for cheese production. Cardoon is often blanched for 3-4 weeks before harvest to improve the flavor and tenderness of it's stalks. To blanch, tie the leaves together in a bunch and wrap paper or burlap around the stems to 45cm high. Cardoon cultivars such as the Globe artichoke are taller and less spiny.

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seed packets
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Cardoon facts

Lifespan

Perennial living more than two years

Height

150cm

Row Spacing

60cm
Optimal temperature 14–28 °C
Absolute temperature 7–38 °C
FAO EcoCrop
Optimal rainfall 550–800 mm/year
Absolute rainfall 450–1000 mm/year
FAO EcoCrop
Optimal soil pH 5.5–7
Absolute soil pH 5–7.5
FAO EcoCrop

Crop cycle

?–300 days
FAO EcoCrop

Max altitude

500 m
FAO EcoCrop

Optimal light

clear skies to very bright
FAO EcoCrop

How members grow cardoons

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Cardoon plantings

Bed 10
Bed 10
by Midfields
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Ecological requirements

Data from the FAO EcoCrop database for Cynara cardunculus L.

Family / Taxonomy Magnoliopsida
Asteridae
Asterales
Compositae
Killing temperature growth: -2 °C, rest: -10 °C
Life form herb
Life span perennial
Habit erect
Optimal soil depth deep (>>150 cm)
Optimal soil texture heavy, medium, organic
Optimal soil fertility high
Optimal soil drainage well (dry spells)
Optimal soil salinity low (<4 dS/m)
Photoperiod neutral day (12-14 hours), long day (>14 hours)

Licensed under CC-BY-4.0.

Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (2025) ECOCROP, the crop ecological requirements database. Version 1. https://data.apps.fao.org/catalog/dataset/ecocrop. Accessed through the CGIAR Climate Action Data Hub, https://cgiar-climate-data-hub.github.io/catalog/ecocrop_1/.

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