The artichoke is the immature flower bud of a thistle. It is eaten as a vegetable and is culinarily classified as such. The plant is a member of the aster family, and the bud is harvested before it blossoms. Native to the Mediterranean region, artichoke is thought to be one of the world's oldest foods, even appearing in Greek mythology. Today, it's available in the U.S., growing primarily in California with more than 80 percent of the domestic crop coming from the "Artichoke Center of the World," Castroville.

Source: The Spruce Eats