Artichoke relative. Dramatic display plant with its 3' long, deeply cut grey-green leaves and large, thistle-shaped purple flowers. Popular in Europe, the large first year leaves are tied up and blanched, and the leaf stalks eaten as a vegetable. The leaves contain cynarin which improves gall bladder and liver functions, increases bile flow and lowers cholesterol. Yields a yellow dye. The down from the seedheads is used as a rennet. Unreliably hardy for us, it can be dug and over-wintered like dahlias.