Artichoke

The artichoke is native to the Mediterranean and Canary Islands, having been cultivated in parts of Europe for centuries. Mentioned in both Greek and Roman literature, the artichoke was grown as an edible vegetable and introduced into California by the Spanish in the 1600s.

Artichoke plants usually produces edible chokes each year from the second through the fifth years. Each choke has an edible heart surrounded by large edible leaves.