We don’t give artichokes enough credit. They may descend from thistles and have a funny name, but these are actually very interesting veggies!
Taste-wise, artichokes are delicious, especially dipped in melted butter. They have a nutty flavor and are surprisingly meaty in texture. Historically, the close relatives of artichoke plants were used medicinally. Today, we enjoy this unconventional veggie on pizza, in soups, or all on their own.
What is an Artichoke?
Artichokes are actually unopened flower buds. They have pointed leaves, called bracts, that wrap around the artichoke heart and developing flower. Depending on variety, the bracts are usually blue-green and dark purple. If left to blossom, the bracts open up to reveal fluffy, thistle-like flowers in bright blue-violet.
So how do artichokes grow? The plant itself is fairly large. It can reach five feet tall and two to four feet wide. It grows clumps of stalks adorned with jagged leaves and, in some varieties, spines or thorns. Grow artichokes as part of decorative landscaping. They add a whimsical look that you just can’t get with run-of-the-mill garden flowers.
The globe artichokes that we’ll be focusing on are a subgroup of Cynara cardunculus, known as cardoon, which is an edible, clumpy weed that’s sometimes grown as decorative plants.
Artichoke falls under the Scolymus group of this species, which is less weed-like and commercially cultivated. If left to their own devices, these plants can revert to their wild and weedy roots.
Native Area
Artichoke farm with rows of artichoke plants in a field. Because they’re from the Mediterranean, artichoke plants prefer mild winters and cool summers. Artichokes originated in the Mediterranean and date back to at least the 5th century BC. They didn’t make their way to the US until the 1800s but became a big hit.
Today, over three-quarters of commercial artichokes come from California, mainly in Monterey County. There’s even an artichoke festival in Castroville every May celebrating this fantastic produce.
Because they’re from the Mediterranean, artichoke plants prefer mild winters and cool, long summers. The ideal artichoke growing zone is 7-10, though many gardeners in zones 5 and 6 have success as well. It’s possible to grow artichokes as annuals in colder zones, but they don’t produce optimally until their second year of life.