Cardoon ‘Rouge d’Alger’ (Cynara cardunculus)

1 well-established plant in a 1 Litre pot, sent in plastic-free packaging. A striking, architectural heritage vegetable, prized for its vivid red stalks and exquisite artichoke-like flavour.

Perennial | 150-200cm tall | Full sun | Edible blanched stalks | Massive biomass producer and beloved by pollinators

Cardoon ‘Rouge d’Alger’ is a spectacular relative of the globe artichoke. It’s a robust perennial vegetable that forms a massive, fountain-like rosette of deeply toothed, silvery-grey foliage. It has a deep taproot that can help bring nutrients from deep in the soil up to the surface to help aid the growth of shallow-rooted plants. The large quantity of foliage produced makes it an excellent biomass producer, perfect for chop and drop. While standard cardoons have pale green stems, this stunning heritage Algerian variety is characterised by its vibrant, crimson-red stalks. Grown primarily for these thick, fleshy leaf midribs, the stalks are wrapped and blanched in late autumn to keep them tender and mild. Once cooked, they offer a rich, nutty flavour.

 If left to flower, it shoots up towering stems topped with enormous, electric-purple thistle blooms. These are absolute magnets for bumblebees, butterflies, and other beneficial insects, providing a vital late-summer nectar feast, while the dried seed heads feed overwintering birds. Even if you never harvested this plant for the kitchen, it would make a beautiful, dramatic addition to your garden.  It is remarkably drought-resilient once established, thriving in baking sun and free-draining soils. Although it requires a generous footprint, this hardy edible perennial will reward you with architectural beauty, immense ecological services, and unique winter harvests year after year.

Delivery Information

All plants are carefully packed and sent in plastic-free packaging to protect both the plant and the environment. Plants are dispatched promptly so they arrive fresh, healthy, and ready to plant.

We ship orders using a tracked 24-hour delivery service, helping to minimise time in transit and reduce stress on the plant. Orders are packed by hand at the nursery, and we aim to dispatch early in the week to avoid delays over weekends.

If you have any questions about delivery timing or combining orders, please get in touch before ordering and we will be happy to help.

To find out more about other plants for your garden visit – https://dyfiplants.substack.com