Plants are shorter than hardneck varieties with more spreading rather than upright leaves.
The leaves are broader than any other variety and a deeper green than most. While Artichokes do not normally produce a seed head, they often produce large bulbils that protrude from the lower third of the stem. When stressed Artichokes can produce hard necks and seed heads. Cloves planted from these bulbs will usually revert to soft necks the following season. Artichokes are named from their configuration of several overlapping layers of cloves, reminiscent of the true Artichoke.