Cardoon Artichoke
This is a Cardoon artichoke. I bought three of them at the Van Dusen plant sale. The ants seem to love them. I've read conflicting things about how well they overwinter, and also about whether they will flower in their first year. Hopefully they do at least one of those things, as otherwise I've just got a big old thistle (three!) in my yard. Artichokes are part of the thistle family, so that wasn't just a creative metaphor. None of mine seem to be doing very much yet. Apparently they are also major self-seeders. Of course it's edible, but I am mainly growing them for the ornamental value.