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Ornamental Cabbage and Kale
Brassica oleracea

Ornamental cabbage and kale are an excellent choice for gardeners who wish to have year-round color in their flower beds. There is nothing better than seeing the brilliant colors of purple and green poking through the snow. These plants provide color during the fall months and throughout the entire winter in northern regions. Both ornamental cabbage and kale are classified as Brassica oleracea (the same as edible cabbages, broccoli, and cauliflower), but the ornamentals are better for coloring the garden than they are for eating.

Ornamental cabbage and kale prefer cool weather. The ornamental cabbages look much the same as an edible cabbage, while the kales tend to have a more unfolded and fancy or cut leaf.

There are two main planting times for ornamental cabbage and kale in the fall. The best time to plant ornamental cabbage and kale is after garden mums have finished flowering or have been hit by a heavy frost. Plants may also be set out in the early spring.

The white, pink, or red pigmentations for which the plants are noted do not appear until after several frosts or prolonged cool weather. Planting too early can result in a plant that stretches, becomes leggy, and is relatively colorless. Planting before frosts also means that you will have to contend with cabbage loopers, whereas after frosts, ornamental cabbages and kales are relatively pest-free. The colder the weather gets the more colorful the ornamental cabbage and kale get.

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