Cynara cardunculus syn. Cynara cardunculus Cardoon

Coming into flower. 8ft tall this year 😳

Impressive 🤗

@debs69 i didnt realise they got so big debra.😯

Heading into next doors 🤦‍♂️

Clearly loving all the sunshine this year its going to be huge 😯

@keely they grow quickly keely.

Wow 🤩

What a monster. Should get over the fence this year 🤗

Morning all. This has doubled in size this year, its close on 8ft tall this year .

Morning Dave. Oh wow I didn't realise they could get that tall ....amazing 👋😯

Morning Dave, that’s huge 😍😍

@flof1952 neither did i Pauline, you have a job to see the flower 🙄

Morning oh jeez that looks dangerous 😂😂

It’s fab Dave. I wish I had too, for one 💜

@gardengirlla you wouldnt want to sit on it maggie 😮😂

Morning all. Just about ready to flower. Although its 8ft high this year, so can barely see it 🙄

Morning Dave 🙋🙋

Wow she’s s a big girl 👌

Ooh! Fab. I somehow killed my plant 😬

Im going to have to get my step ladders out to see the flower this year. Its over 7ft now 😮

Its just showing off now 🤗

This is cool too🤩 @davewrightjoinerygooglemail.co

@alysha its grown well this year alysha. Its well over 6ft now. It got to about 4ft last summer.

I love it, I think I'll get one for next year 👍🏼😀

@sieveheadsarah they certainly make a statement sarah. A big whopping thistle like flower as well.

I saw one for sale £8 at the local council garden centre place last week, but it was very straggly looking 🤔

@sieveheadsarah they produce new leaves quickly sarah, i just remove the straggly ones, and a new one soon appears. Their easy to keep aswell.

Ooh I ordered a baby plant last night. That should look great when it grows behind the pond.

Think I may have to go and see if they've still got one Dave, it'll look good next to my huge bronze fennel.

Over 6ft now 😳

That’s great Dave

@godfreye its one of my wifes favourites enid. They do make a bit of a statement.

Coming along well . I wasnt sure about this last year, but quite like it now.

I'm thinking about getting one, I think they're fab!

I had one for a couple of years but it took over so donated it to mum. If you have a big space to fill, it's perfect and a bee magnet when it's in flower

@vec how big do they get julie 🤔 im a bit concerned about that comment after some of the monster plants you have 😂

Mine was 6ft within a year but its the girth that caused me a problem.

@vec 😮 good job were talking about a plant 😂😂😂

😂😂😂

Growing like the clappers.

Growing quickly.

Seems to have got through the winter ok

Tough as old boots these are 👍🏼

@richard.spicer.7906 it was its 1st year last year, so be good to see how it grows this year .

#macro not yet decided wether this has earnt its right to stay 🤔

Just got in from work, and look whats come out to say hello.

Really hope the flower is a bit better looking than the plant 😂

Looks like someone's had a feast on it 😂 The flower is beautiful and bees will love it! 👍

Oh you’re brave Dave. Are these not massive?

@jendren its not over big nicola, there good sized flowers on it though. I dont think itll be around next year, they look to much like a big weed 😂

I know what you mean Dave but the experts describe them as ‘architectural’ 😂😂

I think they look better in a large border among other plants. There's a beautiful long border at Newcastle University with American redbuds, gunnera, hostas, T-Rex plant, acers, katsura tree etc. Cardoon looks great there among all these other foliage plants.

@ublaszko I've just been trying to take a look at that urszula but couldn't find it. The rest of the gardens looked great though .

I had a look as well but there are only pictures of the main square. I look back through my pictures but I've been taking photos of individual plants rather than the whole area.

Not the most elegant plant, but interesting, and a great big flowering something about to burst open !!!

Too big and ugly for our garden. Must be an acquired taste 😀

@joanboston it's not the prettiest of plants Joan , looks a bit like a big thistle 😂

First purchase of the day.. Grows to over 6ft. Should be fun.