Heirloom. This improved artichoke is such a pretty plant that it is also sold as an ornamental. Bold, deeply lobed silvery-green leaves grow in a giant rosette that can get 4 feet tall. The fleshy flower buds 2 to 5 inches in diameter borne on a tall stem from the center of the plant are the edible portion.
"Keep in mind that artichokes are a perennial and depending on the time of year they are sown, soil fertility, weather conditions, the climate in the garden area, etc., they commonly take two years before producing flowers. If they run out of growing season before going dormant, as long as they are protected from freezing conditions over winter, they will come back every year, getting bigger and better. They are a little more of a time investment than growing annual garden vegetables, but to me they are well worth it."
