Plant name: ‘Porto Spineless’ cardoon

Botanical name: Cynara cardunculus ‘Porto Spineless’

Suggested by: Pat Burns of Chiltern Seeds

Virtues: Striking architectural accent in the garden, elegant silver-gray toothy foliage, excellent as a cut flower and edible to boot!

Flower: Blue thistle-like flowers. They are excellent for cutting and drying.

Foliage: Silvery-gray, sharply cut leaves.

Habit: Upright, to 4 feet. Grows in a vase-like rosette with arching leaves.

Season: Early summer to late fall.

Companions: Looks great as an accent point in a silver border or contrasted with deep burgundy foliaged plants.