From another similar post that I responded too: You can eat the stems! If you like artichokes, you will like them. Here's the directions I wrote for another post awhile back: You need to collect the stems in spring while the plants still resemble rhubarb plants. And like rhubarb, you want the stems only, no leaves. Once they go into flower stalk mode, it is to late. After cleaning well, you want to cut the stems up sort of like chopping celery for soup, but a bit bigger. Put them all in a large pot of water and bring to a boil. Then simmer for 15-20 minutes, then drain. The draining out of the water is to get rid of the sometimes strong flavor. Put back in the pot and add new hot water and bring to a boil again and then simmer for at least 15 more minutes. You need to check every once in awhile after that to see when tender. Once tender, drain. Put the burdock in a large mixing bowl. You will need to add beaten eggs to them until well coated. How many eggs of course depends on how much burdock you cooked so to give an exact amount I can't say, but it should be a gooey mess. Then you need to add bread crumbs and grated parmesan or romano cheese. Using already seasoned bread crumbs is easier. When I used the seasoned I still add a bit more garlic powder, oregano, and black pepper. Again how much I can't say but you want to make a really nice gooey mess. You don't want it to get to dry, but you don't want it too wet either. Lol, I hope I'm making sense. Well, the amounts don't need to be exact. It will come out good! Then you fry the mixture in batches over med high heat. Use a good pan or flat griddle that doesn't stick and a little bit of oil. When you put the mixture into the pan, you need to flatten it out a bit so it is like a thick pancake. You want to fry until one side is golden brown, then flip and cook until that side is golden brown also. If something doesn't make sense, let me know, Remy

It seems pretty easy to grow it started with just a few lonely leaves. I always add more perlite to potting soil to aid the drainage.

They're two names (insignis and lancifolia) used for the same plant, but the legitimate name is C. lancifolia. I've got them from the same nursery under each name, hoping they'd turn out to be different, but they're not.

Taking photos of a plant into the nursery to get an ID and posting here are virtually the same activity except here, one doesn't have to leave the comfort of their own home to get a fast and almost always correct ID :-) No apps need - or should - be involved in either case. And I've been to Roger's many times. I guess it depends how one defines an "incredible" nursery. I'd consider Roger's to be more of a retail garden center than a plantsman's nursery. Big focus on garden doo-dads and accoutrements and a very limited selection of landscape plants. Mostly annuals, edibles and houseplants....what the wealthy hobby gardeners look for. And with a Newport Beach/Corona del Mar price tag to match! If you really want an excellent nursery, drive a few miles south to the Plant Depot in San Juan Capistrano. This is a full service nursery with a huge range of plants. Nothing fancy.......just a whole lotta plants of ALL types! That is where I shopped when I did landscape design in OC.