I have just a few freshly harvested seeds. These grow to 5ft tall and look like giant thistles. They are grown for ornamental purposes as 'feature plants'. After flowering the large seedheads remain on the plant for a long time and are really decorative and unusual. The Latin name of the plant is Cynaria Cardunculus. Harvesting the seed was **fun**, watching the thistledown pop open. There was soon a large container of it. The garden birds will have a novelty lining for their nests this year. If there is anyone who would like a few seeds I'll exchange some for either Daylily or Japanese iris seed or anything a bit different. Please bear in mind that I live in UK.
Terri
CLOSED: Anyone interested in ornamental Cardoons?
I would love some of those seeds! I have seen pictures, don't they come off of an island somewhere? I'll see what daylily seeds I have, and anything else I think might be of interest to you.
Hi Gingerlily!
They are rather spectacular, both in flower and with the seedheads during the winter. They really look fantastic with the frost and snow on them. They're a relative of the globe artichoke, so I hear.
I'll put some of the seeds aside for you and thank you for your reply.
Terri
I have daylillyseeds and iris.. lmk. would love some to..
Hope43, I will dmail you and put you some seeds aside.
Thanks!
Terri
You may want to check your State's noxious weed list before you cement a trade. I could probably get into trouble purposely importing some things into California. State and County Ag inspectors here sure don't have much in the way of a sense of humor.
K
Cardoon, Artichoke Thistle (Cynara cardunculus) http://davesgarden.com/pf/go/913/index.html
Check your State's noxious weed list here:
The U.S. Department of Agriculture, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, Plant Protection and Quarantine Program http://nationalplantboard.org/laws/index.html
~* Robin
Thank you for that information Robin.
If you have this plant growing and don't want to risk having seedlings everywhere, the seedheads are really large and tightly compacted for several weeks, which gives you time to cut off the seedheads (which are very decorative) and dispose of them. They're not like most plants that self seed before you realise it and you can actually see the seedheads begin to burst open, so you do get a warning that they're about to release the seeds.
I hope this helps a little. Please bear in mind that I'm in UK and it may act a little differently in much warmer or colder areas.
terri
I do want them Terri; so you can send them on. They are not banned or a prohibited and noxious weed in New York State.
However; they are a prohibited and noxious weed in CA (California) sorry to say.
People eat them as an Articoke substitute in some parts of the USA.
~* Robin
Sorry, didn't mean to annoy. Just butted in in hopes of saving someone trouble and/or a fine.
K