How to Grow Ornamental Flowering Kale

Flowering kale, Brassica oleracea var. acephala, is a cool-weather biennial in the Brassicaceae family that includes broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, kale, and kohlrabi. It is usually grown as an annual in the cool gardens of fall, and winter.

Bred to look attractive, it is edible, but generally has a bitter flavor.

A biennial plant is one that blooms in the second year. Since ornamental kale is typically grown as an annual, there is no true flower formation during its one year of vegetative growth.

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The name refers instead to the center leaves of pink, purple, red, or white, that give the illusion of a blossom surrounded by foliage.

In this article you will learn how to cultivate and care for annual flowering kale. In addition, you will discover available varieties, plus the best ways to display them.

Get ready to love a colorful, texturally-rich plant that makes cool season gardens come to life!

Ornamental kale and cabbage are in the same family. Kale is noteworthy for its feathery, fringed, or wavy leaves, while cabbage has smooth, rounded foliage.

Kale grows in all USDA Hardiness Zones. It prefers a location with full sun and organically-rich soil that drains well. The ideal pH is between 6.0 and 7.5.

Plant heights range from about six to 35 inches tall, with center rosettes in shades of pink, purple, white, and bi-color combinations.

According to the University of California Cooperative Extension Central Coast & South Region Center for Landscape and Urban Horticulture, colors begin to develop once nighttime temperatures dip below 60°F.

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