Ornamental Cabbage and Kale

Que sont le chou d'ornement et le chou frisé?

Ornamental cabbage and kale (also known as “flowering” cabbage and kale) are in the same species (Brassica oleracea) as edible cabbage, broccoli, and cauliflower. While ornamental cabbage and kale are edible, they tend to have a bitter flavor and are often used in a culinary setting as garnishes. Ornamental cabbage and kale are prized primarily as colorful additions to home gardens where they are grown for their large rosettes of white, pink, purple or red leaves. Technically, ornamental cabbage and kale are all kales (kales produce leaves in a tight rosettes; cabbages produce heads). But in the horticultural trade, ornamental kale is the term used for types with deeply-cut, curly, frilly or ruffled leaves. Ornamental cabbage is the term used for types with broad, flat leaves that are edged in a contrasting color. Ornamental cabbage and kale grow approximately one foot wide and 15 inches tall. There are many cultivars that are commercially available.

•The ‘Chidori’ series has mounded kale types with purple foliage, extremely curly leaf margins and cream white or deep magenta centers.

•The ‘Color Up’ series has cabbage types with upright, columnar growth habits and green leaves with colored centers in white, blush pink or fuchsia.

•The ‘Nagoya’ series has round kale types with heavily crinkled leaves and tight rosette centers that range in color from fuchsia pink to lavender to yellow green to creamy white.

•The ‘Osaka’ series has fast-growing, compact cabbage types with bluish-green, semi-waved leaves with pink, red, or white centers.

•The ‘Peacock’ series has compact hybrids with deeply serrated, feathery red or white leaves.

•The ‘Pigeon’ series has flattened cabbage types with red or white centers.

•The ‘Tokyo’ series has nearly perfectly round cabbage types with smooth, blue-green outer leaves and soft pink, red, or white centers.

Where do I get ornamental cabbage and kale? Ornamental cabbages and kales do not tolerate summer heat, so you need to start plants from seed in mid-summer, or purchase transplants at your local garden center. Sow seeds about six to 10 weeks before the expected date of the first frost in your area. Seeds must be sown and young plants kept under cool conditions to thrive. In most climates, this means plants should be started in a greenhouse where the temperature can be controlled. Alternatively, you can place pots with seeds in a refrigerator for several days to encourage germination. In cooler climates, sowing seeds directly in the garden may be possible. Ornamental cabbage and kale seeds require light for germination, so seeds should not be covered with soil.