Cynara cardunculus subsp. flavescens

Family: Asteraceae · Type: perennial · Not Native

Cardoon is a naturalized perennial found in northern California coastal ranges, Sierra Nevada foothills, Central Valley, central western California, and southwestern California in disturbed places at elevations below 500 meters. Flowering from April to July, this plant produces lavender to purple flowers in large, spiny heads with needle-like spines 1 to 3 centimeters long. Growing with robust, bushy stems 80 to 200 centimeters tall, it forms an expansive and imposing botanical presence. Its large leaves are deeply lobed and tipped with sharp, distinctive needle-like spines that provide a striking defensive mechanism. The plant's substantial size and spiny structure make it a dramatic and easily recognizable species in disturbed landscapes.

Habitat: Disturbed places

Bloom period: Apr-Jul

Elevation: < 500 m

Bioregions: NCoR, SNF, GV, CW, SW

California counties: San Luis Obispo, Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, Shasta, Santa Barbara, Contra Costa, Ventura, San Diego, Monterey

Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Jepson eFlora, Cal-IPC, and more.