Cardoon ( Cyanara )

worth waiting for its lovely........

Thanks Holly . it was a surprise , I didn't think it would open this year .. :o)

Incredible colour - did you find that you were compelled to brush your fingers across the top of the flower ? Or do I just have weird impulses !!! :~))

Lovely, how long does the flower last?

Thanks , I know what you mean Mark , I do have to have a touch !

This is new to me Drc , I didn't think it would flower at all this year , I will take note of the date and see how long it lasts . :o)

Oh I see Amy a bonus, well its a lovely one.

Wow thats lovely Amy.

Beautiful colour.

Thanks Carole and Gee , it was a nice surprise ..........

Ooh Amy....what a spectacular flower....is it of the thistle family?

Janey You made me look this up ..LOL.. I found out that the proper name for a Cardoon is .. Cyanara . c. cardunculus ... and that the Cardoon and Globe Artichoke c. scolymus are BOTH vegetables grown for their flower bases , I did know that you could eat the Globe Artichoke ( i'm not that keen on them ) but I didn't know that you could eat the Cardoon , they grow up to 5ft tall ..
And they do call them thistle heads in this book !

Another thing it says is that you should protect the crowns in the winter , I didn't know tht either ... so thank you for making me look it up .. :o)

I planted this in the summer in the same spot that we dug out the honey fungus .. I will be keeping an eye on it !

Hi Amy, we were only saying a couple of weeks ago that you didnt think it would flower, so what a lovely surprise. I must check mine as I didnt set mine until Summer. So we need to protect the crown - thanks for that.

Hi Dawn , I thought of you when I saw it and wondered if yours was in flower as well , it's funny that we should both put one in this summer .. :o)))

Its spooky Amy :-))) I'll check mine tomorrow.

You do Dawn , I shall ' faint ' if yours is in flower as well .....LOL...

Ha ha Amy - I looked at it the other day and it wasnt - I'll check first thing and post a pic if it is. Mine is labelled: Cyanara cardunculus so ours are the same - of course.

Amazing flower!

thats lovely Amy

Spectacular looking flower!

It hasnt flowered Amy :-((( I'm keeping a close eye on it though.

Thanks everyone :o) Don't get to close Dawn , they're very prickly .. LOL.......

I wont get my eye too close Dawn x x x

Fantastic, well worth the wait Amy......

Thanks DD .. :o)

Looks nice and a good picture too.

Thanks Littleoldman , a bit late in the season but very welcome for a first one ... :o)

It's very late, Amy - mine flowered back in the summer! Better late than never, though. How tall is yours? I wouldn't be able to reach the top of mine.

Mine is about 4 ft. Barbara , it was new in late this year .. it will probably take off better next year , it has some other buds on it but I don't think they will come to anything after this frost !