Cynara cardunculus var. scolymus
Light: Full sun during the cool season; afternoon shade helps protect plants from intense late-spring and summer heat.
Water: Water deeply and regularly during active growth, allowing the soil surface to dry slightly between waterings. Avoid prolonged drought during bud development and soggy soil around dormant crowns.
Soil: Fertile, well-drained soil enriched with compost. Tolerates mildly alkaline soil, but avoid compacted soil and salt buildup.
Mature size: 3–5 feet tall and 4–6 feet wide; flowering stalks may reach 6 feet.
Bloom: Typically produces edible buds in spring, followed by flowers in late spring or early summer if buds are left unharvested. Bud production depends on variety, planting time, and winter chilling.
Evergreen / deciduous: Herbaceous perennial; may become summer-dormant or die back in Phoenix heat. Often grown as an annual where summer survival is unreliable.
Growth rate: Fast during cool weather with adequate moisture and fertility; slows or becomes dormant in extreme heat.