The cardoon, Cynara cardunculus, is often called an "architectural" plant. What this means is that the plant is tall and distinctive looking, with lots of structure. It stands. It looks like a statuesque artichoke, which is in the same horticultural family Cynara. An Italian delicacy, bagna cauda, calls for the stalks to be blanched and baked as a casserole in a flavored bechamel sauce.
But if you leave the flower head on the plant till late fall, you will be treated to this spectacular seed head, towering over the rest of the vegetable patch.
1 comment:
its like a fairy house that started out somewhat conservative and then went boffo and had a party with fireworks...
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