Artichoke plants are sculptural shrubs that reside in my garden year-round. I do not grow them in my raised beds as they take too much space; the plants can spread to be five to six feet across! Despite their formidable appearance, the artichokes’ silvery green leaves are beautiful under my deciduous fruit trees.
Artichokes are resilient plants and can thrive in a wider range of climates. With California’s milder winters, my artichoke plants survive as perennials. The best time to pick them is when the globe is green and the bracts (the leaves) are still tight. Fortunately, if you miss the harvest, the bracts spread and the artichoke blooms a beautiful purple flower resembling an anemone, which make interesting additions to any floral arrangement.
My favorite way to serve artichokes is steamed with a garlic butter dipping sauce.
