Ornamental Cabbage and Kale
Ornamental cabbage and kale are popular cool season annuals. Their colorful leaves brighten the fall and for some, the winter landscape. But what’s the real difference between these two.
Both plants are types of Brassica oleraceas like those commonly grown in our vegetable gardens. Ornamental and the less ornamental cabbages are in the capitata group. These form heads while the kale varieties are in the acephala group, growing more upright.
You can identify ornamental cabbage by the rosette or cluster of broad flattened leaves. These may be tipped in red, pink, purple or cream and make a nice focal point in the garden or container. Kale forms a tighter more upright cluster (rosette) of leaves making it a great vertical accent. The colorful leaves may be smooth, ruffled or lacy.
Watch the color intensify and deepen as temperatures drop throughout the fall and early winter.
A bit more information: These foliage plants combine nicely with colorful annuals like pansies, alyssum, stocks and dianthus. Or plant them in the garden or containers with mums and asters.
Related
Categories
Upcoming Live Events
& Webinars
April 3, 2024
Garden Trends
Franklin Public Library, Franklin, WI
April 10, 2024
FREE WEBINAR
Container Gardening Throughout the Year
Register now
April 11, 2024
FREE WEBINAR
7 Steps to Managing Water Where it Falls in Your Yard
Register now
April 17, 2024
Landscaping for Birds:
A Gardener’s Perspective
Glendale, WI
April 18, 2024
Be a Waterwise Gardener
Golden Rondelle Theater, Racine, WI
Register now
April 20, 2024
Pruning Hydrangeas and Other Shrubs
Pasquesi Home & Gardens, Lake Bluff, IL
April 27, 2024
Ridges & Rivers Book Festival
Viroqua, WI
April 28, 2024
Flowering Trees and Shrubs
Ebert's Greenhouse Village, Ixonia, WI
May 1, 2024
FREE WEBINAR
Ornamental Fruits and Vegetables
Register now
May 4, 2024
Garden U 2024
New Richmond, WI
Register now
May 9, 2024
FREE WEBINAR
How to Plant Your Rain Garden
Register now
May 11, 2024
Ask The Plant Doctor Q & A
Ebert's Greenhouse Village, Ixonia, WI
May 12, 2024
Ask The Plant Doctor Q & A
Ebert's Greenhouse Village, Ixonia, WI
May 18, 2024
Ask The Plant Doctor Q & A
Ebert's Greenhouse Village, Ixonia, WI
June 1, 2024
Selecting, Planting, Pruning and Caring for Hydrangeas
Ebert's Greenhouse Village, Ixonia, WI
June 5, 2024
FREE WEBINAR
Under-Appreciated Pollinators
Register now
WATCH ON-DEMAND WEBINARS
Learn More