Cardoon ???

sunshine preferred

My neighbour has a plant which i have identified as a Cardoon . Last year on my side of the fence i had a number of shoots appearing which i just used to take out. I have planted my garden from scratch so i knew it was not something i had planted . Thinking now it may be from the Cardoon and maybe letting a couple grow but it looks a large plant and not sure if i should or how far it spreads , what do people think ?

JennyJ

I've had one for years (the ornamental Cynara cardunculatus - not sure if the edible one is different?) and it doesn't spread from the roots, but it does self-seed a bit if I leave the seed heads on. Soil type may affect whether it spreads though - mine is free-draining and sandy, and this particular location is also near a privet hedge which takes out moisture.

punkdoc

Over time the clump will spread and it does become a large plant. I would not be without it: great leaves, fantastic flowers, and seed heads that last most of the winter.

JennyJ

I hope mine will spread, but it's been there something like 10 or 12 years now. It looks great but spreading isn't happening. It must be the dryness and competition. I do like how it looks against the dark green hedge though. I have a few seedlings potted up so I'll try those in different places and see how they go.

@sunshine preferred , maybe you could post a picture?

Mary370

Planted seeds of it a few weeks ago....... feeling hopeful......

sunshine preferred

Jennyj , i pulled up all the shoots last year so nothing to show . If i have the shoots this year i may let a couple grow to see if they are from the cardoon , may be that they are from something else . My neighbours love their garden and is heavily planted so who knows .