PlantFiles: Flowering Cabbage, Ornamental Kale, Collard, Cole
Brassica oleracea var. acephala

Have the Purple Kale and the White/Green Kale. They do add a bit of color that goes very well with Autumn Joy Sedum.

They are planted where they receive about 2 to 3 hours of dappled sunlight from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Daylight Savings Time.

Ornamental Kale is a beautiful, edible plant that I have often used in my garden, sometimes amont the flowers, sometimes among the vegetables. I normally buy plants for it in the spring, though it is very easy to grow from seed. By mid summer it is really pretty and its fall display is impressive. For beautiful party platters take one head and separate the leaves to line the platters, then put appetizers or composed salads or any dish on top the beautiful kale leaves. Very showy and tasty as well.

I have a flowering cabbage that is approximately 3 ft high. I had to replant a few months after being in the ground after it started leaning over off the flower bed. My only warning to other gardeners is don't overwater-the leaves will turn yellow and fall off. It has even started to send side shoots off the main stem. It gets sun from mid day to eve. But otherwise--I pretty much a no fuss plant. I haven't fertilized mine--just water from the sprinkler and rain. And off course some triazicide--too many creatures wanting to taste my flowers.

I have grown 'Red Feathers' for 4 years: the same plant re-sprouts from the stalk in the spring, and by autumn becomes a beautiful accent again. Persists through winter.

Ornamental heads have wavy leaves with green edges, pink, red or white centers. Attractive in containers or massed in beds. Needs cool weather to develop color. Avoid planting where any member of the cabbage family grew the previous year.

Start indoors in late winter to early spring where summers are cool. In South, Gulf, and Pacific Coast areas, sow from fall to early winter. In other areas, plant from sprint to early summer and grow for fall color. Sow seeds 1/4" deep in planting formula. Keep moist. Seedlings emerge in 7-12 days at 65-70F

Transplant seedlings to individual containers when they have at least 2 pair of leaves. Space 1 1/2" apart in the garden.