All varieties of ornamental kale fall under the botanical moniker Brassica oleracea. The smooth-edge types are often called ornamental cabbage, but at their botanical roots, they are ornamental kale.
Ornamental kale is known in the seed trade as "65-mph color," which means that a planting of kale creates such a splash of bold hues that it can catch the eye of someone whizzing by at highway speeds.
Flowering kale is popular among Japanese gardeners who use it as a cut flower. More varieties are sold in Japan than in the United States.
Savor the flavor of ornamental kale leaves in delicious stews, soups, and salads. A traditional Portuguese soup blends kale with beans, chorizo, cabbage, and potatoes. Sausage is the meat of choice for serving or cooking with kale.
Many seed packets contain a mix of ornamental kale colors in plants that may not be uniform. If you want specific leaf shading, uniform plants, and multiple color choices, it is best to purchase named varieties of plants in the fall. If you want to sow a large bed of kale, buy seed marked clearly as a particular color.
I love to plant kale every year as it gives me beautiful color all winter long. Pairing it with pansies is a great combination.
Shirley Watson, Smith County Master Gardener
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