Cardoon is a perennial grown for the harvest, ready about 120 days after sowing. It's hardy across USDA zones 7 through 10 and stands up to deer. Its summer flowers are a real draw for honeybees, native bees, and butterflies, even though the harvest is the prize.
Zones
7-10
pH Range
5.5-7.5
Sun
Full Sun
Days to Maturity
120
Score Cardoon on your exact land.
Zone averages can't see the slope, soil, frost, and sun that decide whether cardoon actually takes — and those shift from one yard to the next. Enter your address and we'll score cardoon against your land's real conditions.
We read public map data for this spot — soil, climate, flood, and parcel records. How we handle your address.
No card required · your full report in seconds
What Cardoon is
Cardoon grows as a perennial and reaches around six feet at maturity. It blooms purple in summer. It's also deer-resistant.
How to grow Cardoon
Cardoon grows in USDA zones 7 through 10 and is ready to harvest about 120 days after planting. Cardoon does best in full sun — at least 6 hours of direct sun a day — and soil from pH 5.5 to 7.5, on well-drained ground. It needs around 2,000 growing degree days to mature and a growing season of at least 120 frost-free days, which is why climate matters as much as soil.
USDA Zones
7-10
USDA PHZM 2023
Soil pH
5.5 - 7.5
USDA PLANTS Database
Sun
Full Sun
plant_species_v5.csv
Drainage
well (dry spells)
plant_species_v5.csv
Days to Maturity
120 days
Cardoon; perennial in zone 7+, annual elsewhere. From transplant.
UC-Fruit; UMass-Veg
GDD Required
2000+
plant_species_v5.csv
Mature Height
6 ft
plant_species_v5.csv
Frost-Free Days
120+
plant_species_v5.csv
Start the season right
Plant cardoon in full sun with at least 6 hours of direct sun, once the soil has warmed and frost risk has passed.
Match the soil
Cardoon prefers pH 5.5 to 7.5 (USDA PLANTS Database). A quick soil test from your local Extension lab tells you whether to add lime or sulfur to land in band.
Water steadily
Keep the root zone evenly moist through establishment. A 2–3 inch mulch layer holds moisture without waterlogging.
Harvest at maturity
Cardoon is ready about 120 days after sowing (UC-Fruit; UMass-Veg). Watch for cultivar-specific ripeness cues and pick at peak.
Good to know
Good news for pet owners — cardoon isn't known to be toxic to dogs or cats. (Source: ASPCA.)
Cardoon is a standout pollinator plant — high value to bees and other pollinators. (Source: Xerces Society, Pollinator Partnership.)
Where Cardoon thrives
Cardoon is hardy across USDA zones 7 through 10. Zone is only the starting point, though: the soil pH, drainage, and frost dates on your specific land decide how well it actually does.
Zones 7–10·Where Cardoon growsOpen map →
On USDA hardiness-zone overlap, Cardoon can grow in these states:
See if Cardoon will thrive on your land
Zone averages are a start. Your exact soil pH, drainage, sun exposure, and frost dates shape whether cardoon actually takes — we score it against the real conditions at your address.
Three things about your exact spot that zone averages miss:
We read public map data for this spot — soil, climate, flood, and parcel records. How we handle your address.
25+ data sources analyzed in seconds
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I grow Cardoon in my zone?
Cardoon grows in USDA hardiness zones 7 through 10 (USDA PHZM 2023). Zone is one factor — soil pH, drainage, and frost dates on your specific parcel also shape whether it takes.
How long does Cardoon take to grow?
Cardoon is ready to harvest about 120 days after planting (UC-Fruit; UMass-Veg). Your local frost dates and soil temperature move that window earlier or later.
When should you plant Cardoon?
Most growers plant cardoon after the last spring frost, once the soil has warmed, leaving enough of the season for its 120-day frost-free need. Your local frost dates set the exact window — a Growable Ground report reads them for your address.
How much sun does Cardoon need?
Cardoon needs full sun — a spot that catches at least 6 hours of direct summer sun a day. In more shade it still grows, but usually gives a smaller, later crop. The catch is that a yard rarely gets even light everywhere — a fence, the house, or one tall tree can quietly take those hours. A Growable Ground report reads the real sun-hours across your land, canopy and buildings included, so you can pick the brightest bed before you plant.
What soil does Cardoon need?
Cardoon prefers soil pH 5.5 to 7.5, on well-drained ground (USDA PLANTS Database). Your report scores your parcel's actual soil against that using USDA SSURGO data.
Does Cardoon attract pollinators?
Yes — cardoon's flowers are a strong nectar and pollen source for honeybees, native bees, and butterflies (Xerces Society, Pollinator Partnership).
Is Cardoon safe for pets?
Cardoon is not known to be toxic to dogs or cats based on available data (ASPCA). Always supervise pets around new plantings.