The artichoke is a thistle plant native to the Mediterranean. Artichokes grow best in coastal climates. They grow in the wild in southern Europe. In the United States they are grown on artichoke farms. Most artichokes in the United States are grown in Monterey County, California. The artichoke is celebrated each year at the Castroville Artichoke Festival.

The leaves come up from the base and are long and somewhat spiny. The stem grows up to three feet high and branches off with large heads that are violet or white. A thistle type flower grows at the summit of the branches. The heart and leaves of the immature flower are the parts we eat.

While fresh artichokes are available year round due to availability of imports, the bulk of the California crop is available in early to middle spring. When selecting an artichoke, choose the ones that have tight leaves and are dark green. If the leaves are to far open then the artichoke is past its prime. Artichokes should be used or processed within days of harvesting. If fresh artichokes are not available, frozen or canned can be substituted in most recipes.