Herb latin name: Carlina acanthifolia


Family: Compositae



Edible parts of Carlina acanthifolia:

Flowering head - cooked. Used as a globe artichoke substitute, though they are considerably smaller and even more fiddly.

Description of the plant:



Plant:
Perennial


Height:
60 cm
(2 feet)

Flowering:
June

Habitat of the herb:

Stony places, pastures and rocks on poor soils in mountainous areas.

Propagation of Carlina acanthifolia:

Seed - surface sow in a cold frame in the spring. The seed usually germinates in 4 - 8 weeks at 15°C. As soon as they are large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and plant them out into their permanent positions in the summer. Division in spring. Difficult to do successfully because the plant resents root disturbance.

Cultivation of the herb:

Stony places, pastures and rocks on poor soils in mountainous areas.

Medicinal use of Carlina acanthifolia:

None known

Known hazards of Carlina acanthifolia:

None known

Plant information taken from the Plants For A Future.