Cynara cardunculus is a tall and elegant perennial grown for its ornamental buds and edible stalks.
A close relative to the globe artichoke, it's bud is better seen than eaten as it opens to a splendid mauve topped, crew-cut style thistle flowerhead.
The grey green foliage is very attractive being deeply serrated and the stalks are coarse but quite testy a bit like celery in texture.
These stalks can be blanched, just like celery by depriving them of light.