SCIENTIFIC NAME: Brassica oleracea

COMMON NAME: flowering or ornamental kale or cabbage

FAMILY: Brassicaceae (Cruciferae)

TYPE: biennial

LEAVES: loose rosette, opening from the center; kale--fringed or dissected leaf margin, cabbage--wavy entire leaf margin; green with white, pink, red, or purple, foliage attractive fall to spring

FLOWER: occurrence is termed 'bolting', yellow, not considered ornamental; select cultivars that flower later in spring and will tolerate some early spring heat

GROWTH HABIT: 10" - 15" tall, rosette

SOIL: moist, well drained (low nitrogen rates will increase foliage color)

SUN: full

UTILIZATION: fall planting provides color in winter; bedding plant, borders or specimen plant; can be eaten, but not bred for taste

DISEASES: various rots especially with cold temperatures and high rainfall

INSECTS AND RELATED PESTS: cabbage looper

PROPAGATION: seed

MAINTENANCE: plants removed in late winter to mid-spring when bolting occurs, selection of bolt-resistant cultivars is important; generally, kale is more cold resistant and later to bolt than cabbage; generally, purple or red cultivars less susceptible to cold damage and decay than white cultivars

NOTES: Peacock series from AmericanTakii is a good performer