Ornamental Cabbage Plants

Ornamental cabbage has overlapping center leaves like a rosebud.

Ornamental cabbage, also called flowering kale, is a non-toxic, inedible vegetable and a member of the cole crop family. It is a hybridized version of kale plants commonly used for human consumption, which has been bread to display the most vibrant colors available in the cabbage family. According to the University of North Carolina, its popularity as a fall bedding plant has made it an important cash crop throughout the southern United States.

Uses

Ornamental cabbage is most commonly used to fill spaces in fall garden beds, or as a border plant. In addition to being used as a bedding plants, it has been cultivated as a potted houseplant and is used in the food industry as a platter garnish in fine restaurants. It is typically green or purple, with inter leaves in a variety of colors including white, cream, pink, red and lavender. The cooler the plant's growing temperature, the more vibrant its color pattern becomes.

Growth

Plants grow to a height of 18 inches at maturity, and have a biennial life cycle. In areas where temperatures do not drop below 5 degrees in the winter, the plant will live two years, and in the second year will put up white flowers. In cooler areas, however, the cabbage is considered annual because it cannot survive the winter, and the kale is grown solely for the color of its foliage.

Sowing

Ornamental cabbage is grown from seed. Kale seed is best sewn directly in the soil where growth is desired. They are also started in greenhouses and sold as mature plants for bedding. Cabbage is a cool weather plant, and as such, seeds should be sown six to 10 weeks before the first frost is expected. Plant seeds in rows about 2 feet apart, with at least 6 inches between individual seeds. Seeds require light to germinate and should be sown on top of the soil, rather than under it. Seeds typically germinate in 10 days to two weeks. When plants reach an average height of 3 inches, they should be thinned, so that only the strongest plants remain, and are spaced 18 to 24 inches apart.

Considerations

Flowering kale needs a well drained and extremely fertile soil. It can be placed in a partially shaded bed but must get at least six hours of direct sunlight. The cabbage looper is the greatest threat to the health of ornamental cabbage. The cabbage looper is a larval white moth that will eat holes in cabbage leaves which will, if left untreated, cause plant death. Treat plants with a cabbage looper infestation promptly with an herbicide effective against larval insects. Fertilize ornamental cabbage regularly according to the recommendations of your local university extension office.

Indoors

If flowering kale is sown as an indoor plant, it must be kept cool enough to develop colorful foliage. The seeds are best sown in a 6- to 12-inch pot, in which the plant can remain permanently. Transplanting can cause substantial stress, which damages the kale's growth, and so should be avoided. Refrigerating the pot for three days after the seeds are sown can speed germination and increase coloration. Then keep pot in a cool room where it can receive a minimum of 6 hours of bright light daily.

References

• University of Arkansas Extension Services: Ornamental Kale or Flowering Cabbage
• North Carolina State University: Revisiting the Fertilization Strategy for Ornamental Cabbage
• Texas A&M University: Cabbage
• The Garden Helper: How To Care For And Grow Ornamental Kale and Cabbage Plants