One of the most magnificent of all the herbaceous plants. Honey scented, purple, thistle like flower above silvery-green foliage. This was once grown as a vegetable by the Victorians but now adds a dramatic touch to a border.

Common name

Cardoon

Height

100 cm

Spread

120 cm

Sunlight

Full sun, partial shade

Seasons

June to September

Soil

Moist, well drained

Plant location

Beds and borders. Pots and containers

Characteristics

Cut flower, Architectural

Photo by H. Zell / CC BY-SA (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)