Cardoon: This unusual vegetable is a Mediterranean delicacy! It's closely related to the artichoke, but is grown for its thick, edible leaf stalks, which have a distinctive flavor and can be eaten in soups or sauteed. Grown for its thick, fleshy stalks, it has a mild flavor reminiscent of artichoke hearts that lends itself to boundless culinary opportunities. Typically growing to about 42 inches tall, it will perennialize in zones 7 and warmer, producing for 6–7 years and reaching a final height of 6–8 feet.