A silver foliage perennial that produces deep green, round artichokes. The edible portion of the plant consists of the flower buds before the flowers come into bloom. The artichoke has thick green outer petals and thin pale, yellow inner edible petals. At the centre of the artichoke is the choke - a clump of fine, hair-like, fuzzy material. Beneath the choke is the heart and stem where all the delicious part is. It’s relatively easy to grow and prefers a sunny spot with plenty of space, well-drained soil and thrives particularly well in sandy soil.

Artichokes can be boiled, steamed or sautéed. Small buds can be fried in olive oil and eaten whole.