Photo showing some globe artichoke plants growing in a walled kitchen garden. These artichokes are actually a cultivated thistle / cardoon species (Latin name: Cynara cardunculus var. scolymus) and have been supported with canes. Their dramatic silver spiky leaves / foliage means that they are particularly suitable for an ornamental vegetable garden allotment plot. They are pictured just after flowering, when the seed head / artichoke fruit is beginning to form and will soon be ready to harvest / eat.