Globe artichokes are a perennial, though frost sensitive, relative to the thistles. Harvested artichokes are actually flower buds which resemble unopened green pine cones. Choose a well-drained soil, loose and rich in organic matter. Locate purchased transplants in early May in a bright sunny location.
Individual plants make an interesting addition to flower gardens.
The gray-green spiny foliage is prone to leaf spot and bacterial blights. However, plants usually freeze out in Illinois. Green Globe' is the most common cultivar on the market.