The artichoke is a large, herbaceous, thistle-like perennial, often grown as an annual, that reaches 3–5 feet tall and 4–6 feet wide. Known for its silver-green foliage and dramatic foliage, it bears large, immature flower buds (the edible part) composed of fleshy bracts, which, if left unharvested, bloom into brilliant violet-blue, thistly flowers up to 6–7 inches.