Cynara cardunculus | Cardoon | Porto Spineless Floret’s farm Pale lavender flowers appear in

Pale lavender flowers appear in late summer that rise above the leaves to about 70cm in height

Snowmaiden has fragrant blooms and lasts well in a long vase

This cultivar is not often seen and has sprays of small pale mauve daisy-like flowers that fade to almost white and is also excellent for cutting

The birds are made from corten steel so they will age naturally to a rusty patina

It is a winter dormant plant but come spring it pops up with bright green blades of grass-like foliage that turn cranberry red in summer and progresses to a dark burgundy colour by autumn before going dormant again in winter

Cynara cardunculus | Cardoon | Porto Spineless Floret’s farm Pale lavender flowers appear inCynara cardunculus or Cardoons are aristocrats in both the ornamental and the vegetable world. This striking architectural plant is valued for its dramatic foliage. The leaves are arching and deeply toothed and are a soft grey green in colour. We have them in our white garden and they are a real statement plant. In summer they bear tall flower stems that a topped with chubby thistle buds which open to the most stunning violet blue purple flowers that