This group includes the biennial hybrids of Scotch kale, Scots kale, Russian kale and curly kale, all of which come from the same ancestor, wild cabbage . It is thought to have originated in the eastern Mediterranean region in the 3rd century. The name kale comes from Latin for cabbage. Kale can grow 2-4 feet tall and wide and do best in full sun and any amended well-drained moist garden soil. They can be directly sown in the garden or purchased as seedlings and planted in either spring or fall. In the south, they can be grown all winter long as they tolerate frost and light freezes. Provide adequate nitrogen for best results. Get a soil test before planting and fertilize according to the results. Kale leaves are generally large and thick and range in color from light to dark green, blue-green and red-tinged. They can be flat to curly with frilly to wavy and serrated margins. They can be grown as baby kale or mature plants. For mature plants, harvest when leaves are large but tender from the bottom of the stem to encourage more leaf production. Frost improves the flavor. Kale can be eaten raw or cooked into various dishes. Curly varieties hold up best for cooking things like soup while flat-leaf varieties such as Russian kale do best in stir fries with very little cooking required. In the late winter or spring, plants will bolt and produce a cluster of 4-petaled yellow flowers that the early bees will enjoy. Grow kale in the edible garden or plant among the perennials for winter interest. Click here to see a calendar of planting schedules, time-to-harvest, and recommended spacing. Insects, Diseases and Other Plant Problems: N ematodes are a big problem in sandy soils. Diseases may include leaf spot, black rot, podery mildew and bacterial leaf blight. See pests of crucifers to the left. The Clemson Cooperative Extension Home and Garden Information Center has a factsheet on common Cole crop diseases and other plant problems. VIDEO Created by Elisabeth Meyer for "Edibles, Bulbs, and Houseplants," a plant identification course developed in partnership with Longwood Gardens.
Curated pairwise relationships between this plant and others in the library — who feeds
whom, who competes, who confuses the pests. Green reads as a good pairing, red as one to avoid.
No curated interactions recorded for this species yet.
Also noted by NC State
Related species the NC State Plant Toolbox flags for this plant — look-alikes to tell
apart, and plants that play a similar role in a planting. Ones we carry in the library are linked.
Fills a similar nicheBrassica oleracea Lacinato Kale GroupBrassica rapa var. rosularisRaphanus raphanistrum subsp. sativus
Full plant profile
Growing Conditions
Life cycle
Biennial
Light
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
Soil texture
Clay; High Organic Matter; Loam (Silt); Sand
Soil pH
Acid (<6.0); Neutral (6.0-8.0)
Soil drainage
Good Drainage | Moist
NC region
Coastal; Mountains; Piedmont
Mature size
Height: 2 ft. 0 in. - 4 ft. 0 in. | Width: 1 ft. 0 in. - 4 ft. 0 in.
Growth rate
Medium
Maintenance
Medium
Canopy layer
4 - Herbaceous (3-15 ft)
Form & Appearance
Habit / form
Arching; Erect
Texture
Medium
Leaf color
Blue; Green; Red/Burgundy
Leaf type
Simple
Leaf arrangement
Alternate
Leaf margin
Serrate; Sinuate; Undulate
Leaf feel
Fleshy; Glossy; Leathery
Hairs present
No
Leaf detail
Leaves vary in shape, size and color depending on the species. They can be shades of green, blue and red
Flower color
Gold/Yellow
Flower shape
Cross
Flower size
< 1 inch
Flower detail
Clusters of 4-petaled yellow flowers in late winter to early spring
Bloom time
Spring
Fruit type
Siliqua
Fruit detail
The fruit dries and splits when ripe.
Stem detail
Thick greenish stems
Wildlife & Ecology
Native status
Unknown
Attracts
Bees
Food & Medicine
Fruit type
Siliqua
Landscape Use
Landscape location
Container
Landscape theme
Children's Garden; Edible Garden; Garden for the Blind