Ornamental kale brightens the cool-season containers with large rosettes in rich colors. This kale is in the same family as edible cabbages but has a decorative disguise of frilly, ruffled, showy petals. It delights as a container accent in shades of red, violet, pink, white, and green, which intensify as temperatures cool.
Ornamental kale forms a rosette of tightly packed foliage that is curly, lacey, or deeply cut. Also called flowering kale, the leaves are the feature. They make beautiful cold-tolerant pairings to chrysanthemums, asters, ornamental grasses, snapdragons, Swiss chard, pansies, and violas.
Leaves transition from dusky blue-green to burgundy and plum in cooling autumn temperatures. While many ornamental kales have a bitter flavor and waxy texture, ‘Redbor’ is mild and sweetens as color intensifies in cold weather.
‘Redbor’ is highly cold-hardy and frost-tolerant. Sow seeds in late summer for a fall/winter display or early spring to enjoy before the summer heat sets in.
‘Red Russian’
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botanical name Brassica napus ‘Red Russian’ |
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height 18-30” |
‘Red Russian’ kale is as tasty as it is ornamental, making it useful in seasonal containers and in the kitchen. Its mint-green foliage contrasts with reddish-purple stems and midribs. The large, deeply cut foliage with wavy margins resembles oak leaves. Plant it as a central container specimen for a feathery splash of color.
‘Red Russian’ is suitable for culinary uses at any stage, with tender baby leaves for fresh salads and mature ones for cooking in pasta, sautes, and stews. They also make a showy fall-themed garnish.
The 1885 heirloom is cold-hardy and quick to mature, with full plants in less than two months from seed and young leaves in just over 20 days.
‘Peacock White’
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botanical name Brassica oleracea ‘Peacock White’ |
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height 8-12” |
The ‘Peacock’ series struts a fine, feathery texture in a range of colors. ‘Peacock White’ is a crisp combination with deep green outer foliage and a creamy white core.
The deeply serrated, narrow leaves have an open habit. Their frizzy texture brings high contrast with a clean, tailored color duo to meet a variety of plant combinations.
‘Peacock’ is a dwarf series with good filler qualities. Tuck them in at an angle along container edges for dynamic positioning of the crown.
‘Peacock Red’
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botanical name Brassica oleracea ‘Peacock Red’ |
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height 8-12” |
‘Peacock Red’ continues the frilly essence of the series with dramatic green and purple outer growth and rosy red inner foliage. This feather type is a study in contrasts between its cut foliage and coloration.
As with other ornamental varieties, the rich tones of ‘Peacock Red’ intensify as temperatures drop below 60°F (16°C). The red-purple hues complement cool-season flowering annuals and other greens in any hue, from bold and bright to pastel shades.
‘Coral Prince’
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botanical name Brassica oleracea ‘Coral Prince’ |
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height 8-12” |
‘Coral Prince’ is a striking ornamental kale variety perfect for containers. It has delicate features and soft, tricolor combinations. The open foliage form a rosette with rich green outer layers, a creamy white interior, and a light pinky mauve center when mature.
The softly cut leaves are feathery for added textural flair. The heads, between tightly wound and loose, create a graceful accent in potted displays (not all kale is this regal).
The notched foliage has thick, sturdy stems to hold the look. ‘Coral Queen’ is another variety in the series and makes an intense red and purple counterpart. The outer crown is brushed with purples and greens and has a cerise heart.
‘Yokohama Red’
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botanical name Brassica oleracea ‘Yokohama Red’ |
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height 5-7” |
‘Yokohama Red’ is an extra curly variety in greens, purples, and reds. Its fringed leaves are multi-tonal, with purple stems and midribs.
The dwarf grower has improved cold tolerance. It withstands warming temperatures with a long growing season before bolting (flowering and going to seed).
‘Yokohama’ has a mounding, dwarf habit. Grow it as infill in potted arrangements or pair it with ‘Yokohama White,’ a wavy blend of white and green.
‘Kamome Pink’
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botanical name Brassica oleracea ‘Kamome Pink’ |
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height 8-12” |
‘Kamome’ is a finely ruffled, wavy-leaf type with dense rosettes. The dwarf growers are early to color in white, red, and pink.
‘Kamome Pink’ has a delicate texture and rounded, compact form. Dark green frills surround a wide central cluster of bright rose-pink ruffles. ‘Kamome Pink’ pops against blue, white, and yellow blooms.
‘Winterbor’
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botanical name Brassia oleracea ‘Winterbor’ |
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height 3’ |
Among the most cold-hardy and frost-tolerant ornamental kale varieties, ‘Winterbor’ is a selection for seasonal containers and the vegetable garden. In mild climates, it lasts well into winter and even spring.
‘Winterbor’ has tall, thick leaves with blue-green waves, curls, and light venation. Its mild flavor sweetens with a chill.
For fall enjoyment, sow ‘Winterbor’ in late summer and early fall. Start seeds indoors and transplant or direct sow when temperatures begin to cool. Use nursery potted specimens if your fall growing season is short for an instant display.
‘Nagoya Red’
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botanical name Brassica oleracea ‘Nagoya Red’ |
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height 10-12” |
‘Nagoya Red’ brings tight frills along broad, ruffled texture. The outer leaves are glaucous with light venation and lilac tinting, while the inner foliage is a saturated purple-red.
This wavy-leaf variety is heavily fringed. Plants have a compact, uniform habit, perfect for tucking in for a burst of color.
The ‘Nagoya’ series has ‘Red,’ ‘White,’ and ‘Pink.’ Improved selections feature shorter stems and more pronounced fringe. They don’t require temperatures to be as cool to show vivid color.
‘Glamour Red’
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botanical name Brassica oleracea ‘Glamour Red’ |
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height 10-12” |
‘Glamour Red’ is a top-performing ornamental kale with glossy green and deep pink foliage. The fringe-type leaves are less waxy than other selections, giving them a shiny finish with more vibrant, less dusky coloration.
This All-America Selections Winner performs reliably with vivid color and disease resistance across regions. The rich greens and pinks bring dramatic contrast, including magenta venation.
‘Glamour Red’ produces large rosettes that reach 14 inches wide. This ornamental kale has a low-growing, mounding habit, making it ideal for placing at the front or edge of containers among taller specimens and smaller bloomers like pansies tucked in around it. Or, feature it as a stand-alone accent in a small pot among other arrangements.
‘Darkibor’
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botanical name Brassica oleracea ‘Darkibor’ |
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height 2’ |
‘Darkibor’ creates a unique puffy mound of long, supremely curled leaves. The leafy pillow is full of productive, crinkled foliage in deep to bright green shades.
Along with ‘Redbor’ and ‘Winterbor,’ ‘Darkibor’ is a good selection across climates. Frost-tolerant, it also withstands warm temperatures without being quick to bolt. Gardeners in southern climates rely on these for long-lasting interest.
Like other decorative flowering kales, ‘Darkibor’ is edible with an intense flavor but without being overly bitter. Its leaves are crisp, sturdy, and meaty when mature. Harvest baby and tender leaves at six inches or less while more giant leaves mature for show. Plants continue to produce new leaves.
‘Chidori Red’
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botanical name Brassica oleracea ‘Chidori Red’ |
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height 12-14” |
The ‘Chidori’ series has a mounding form with especially curly leaves striated in green, magenta, and white. The outer foliage is deep burgundy purple, and in ‘Chidori Red,’ it is deep pink and has carmine centers.
‘Chidori Red’ has frilled margins, tightly wound leaves, and an open crown. The dense rosettes provide a unique filler option and tolerate cold and mild winters.
‘Dinosaur’
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botanical name Brassica oleracea var. acephala ‘Lacinato’ |
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height 2-3’ |
‘Dinosaur,’ also known as black Tuscan kale or ‘Lacinato,’ is a flavorful Italian heirloom that masquerades as an ornamental. Its heavily crinkled leaves are handsome in deep blue-green.
The broad, oversized leaves stand tall in potted arrangements. Young leaves are tender and tasty as fresh greens. Mature leaves have a sweet flavor when cooked in pastas, stews, and pesto.
A culinary favorite, the rich blue-green leaves reach nearly black in crisp conditions. Young leaves are ready 21 days from sowing, with mature plants taking about two months.
