General Description/History

Ornamental Kale is a vegetable closely related to broccoli, cabbage and cauliflower. They look very much like brightly coloured cabbages. While most kales are loose–leafed, ornamental kales produce cabbage-like heads with white or purple-pink centres and green outer leaves. Heads are made up of close packed leaves with frilly or serrated edges.

Ornamental kale is a popular garden plant, and enjoys cold weather. They are also available as flowering pots. Most are grown in the field in colder regions of Victoria and Tasmania.

What to look for

• Buy when heads are tightly packed;
• Avoid heads with dried or brown frilly leaf edges.

Flower Care

1. Keep cool at all times.
2. Recut stem and place in water immediately.
3. Using a preservative is optional.
4. Replace water regularly.
5. If growing in a pot, place the pot outside during cold nights to recondition – these plants do not like hot, dry conditions. Water regularly ie every 2 to 3 days.

Interesting Facts about this Flower

Ornamental kale is one of few vegetables regularly used in floristry.

Botanical Name: Brassica oleracea (Acephala group)

Common Names: Flowering Kale, Kale, Ornamental Cabbage, Ornamental Kale

Stem Length: 

Country of Origin: Europe

Available Colours: Blue, Cream, Green, Pink, Purple, White

Season: Autumn,Winter

Availability: March,April,May,June,July,August