Globe Artichoke

Cynara cardunculus

Family: Asteraceae

Perennial in Warm Zones
Large Architectural Plant

Pet & Human Safety

People: Toxic to people (low severity)Pets: Not on the ASPCA lists as we read them

Human edibility

Edible with preparation

Edible parts

unopened flower buds: base of the fleshy bracts (phyllaries) and the center heart, once cooked, flowers (as tea), leaf stalks, blanched and cooked (cardoon, species page), roots, cooked (species page)

Hazardous parts

Not yet checked.

Preparation

Cooking is required: NC State describes the base of the fleshy bracts (phyllaries) and the center heart as edible once cooked.

Hazard type

Cynaropicrin (contact dermatitis), spines

Hazard route

skin contact

How complete this information is

The safety information on this page is partial. Where a source covers a point, it is shown; where none does, the page says so.

Toxic to pets

No ASPCA entry found.

Not on the ASPCA cat or dog plant lists, and NC State Extension's own toxicity note for this species is about human skin contact (cynaropicrin causing dermatitis), not ingestion toxicity to pets. Treat plant handling with the same care noted for people; no pet ingestion hazard is documented in the sources checked.

Poison control

If someone has collapsed, cannot be woken, is having a seizure or has trouble breathing, call 911 now. For any other possible poisoning, call Poison Help: 1-800-222-1222.

Emergency number source: U.S. federal law (47 U.S.C. § 251(e)(3)), read 2026-10-07.

Naturalist Lore

Historical Background & Breeding Lore

The history of this plant and its name, and how it was bred, where we have them.

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Care

Hardiness zones: 9a to 10b as a perennial (NC State Extension): used here; grown as an annual for fall harvest farther north. Sources disagree: Missouri Botanical Garden gives a broader range, USDA Zones 7-9 (culture text) to 7-10 (header).
Water needs: moderate
Mature size: 3-6 ft of space needed per plant; foliage clumps large and bold in the landscape.
Where it comes from: North Africa and Western Europe, widely cultivated around the Mediterranean

Soil & Drainage

Pruning & Flush Rhythm

Feeding Schedule

How to prepare the soil, when and what to feed, and how and when to prune where that applies.

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