How To Grow Ornamental Cabbage – Elevate Your Winter Garden
To grow ornamental cabbage, plant seeds indoors 6-8 weeks before your desired fall display, or acquire transplants for immediate impact.
Ensure a site with full sun, well-draining, fertile soil, and consistent moisture. These vibrant plants thrive in cool temperatures, developing their best colors as the mercury drops, making them perfect for extending garden interest into late fall and winter.
As the days shorten and the vibrant blooms of summer fade, many gardens can start to look a little, well, bare. You might find yourself wishing for a splash of color to carry you through the cooler months.
That’s where ornamental cabbage, often mistaken for its edible cousin, steps in. These stunning plants offer a burst of unexpected beauty, transforming drab autumn and winter landscapes into captivating displays.
Ready to add a touch of drama and resilience to your outdoor spaces? This comprehensive guide will walk you through everything you need to know about how to grow ornamental cabbage, ensuring your garden remains a focal point even when other plants have gone dormant.
Understanding Ornamental Cabbage: More Than Just a Pretty Face
Ornamental cabbage (Brassica oleracea var. acephala) is a true superstar of the cool-season garden. While technically edible, its leaves are often bitter and tough, making it primarily a decorative choice.
What sets these plants apart is their incredible foliage. They boast rosettes of leaves in striking shades of white, pink, purple, and red, often contrasting beautifully with green outer leaves.
The Allure of Flowering Kale
Often grouped with “flowering kale,” ornamental cabbage differs slightly in its leaf structure. Ornamental cabbage typically forms a tighter, more compact head, resembling a giant flower.
Flowering kale tends to have more ruffled or frilly leaves, creating a looser, more open appearance. Both are members of the same species and share similar growing requirements and stunning aesthetic appeal.
Popular Cultivars for Your Garden
Selecting the right variety can significantly impact your garden’s visual appeal. Consider these popular cultivars for their distinct colors and forms:
- ‘Osaka’ Series: Known for large, vibrant heads in white, pink, or red. They are robust and cold-tolerant.
- ‘Nagoya’ Series: Features deeply fringed leaves, offering a more textural look in shades of white, pink, and red.
- ‘Pigeon’ Series: Compact and excellent for containers or borders, available in white, red, or purple centers.
- ‘Peacock’ Series: Characterized by finely dissected, feathery leaves, giving a unique, delicate appearance.
Choosing the Right Spot: Essential Site Selection
The success of your ornamental cabbage display hinges on selecting the perfect location. These plants thrive under specific conditions that enhance their color and longevity.
Sunlight Requirements
Ornamental cabbage needs plenty of sunshine to develop its best colors. Aim for a spot that receives at least 6 hours of full sun per day.
While they tolerate partial shade, insufficient light can lead to greener, less vibrant foliage. The cool temperatures of fall, combined with bright sun, are key to their brilliant hues.
Soil Preferences
Good soil is fundamental for any healthy plant. Ornamental cabbage prefers well-draining, fertile soil rich in organic matter.
A soil pH between 6.0 and 7.0 is ideal. If your soil is heavy clay, amend it generously with compost or aged manure to improve drainage and nutrient content.
Container vs. In-Ground Planting
Ornamental cabbage is incredibly versatile, performing beautifully in both garden beds and containers. For containers, ensure they have drainage holes.
When selecting your containers, consider choosing the best container for your specific needs, as different materials and sizes offer various benefits for root health and moisture retention.
Starting Your Journey: How to Grow Ornamental Cabbage From Seed or Transplant
Whether you prefer the satisfaction of growing from seed or the convenience of transplants, getting the timing right is crucial for these cool-season beauties.
Starting Seeds Indoors
For a spectacular fall and winter display, start ornamental cabbage seeds indoors 6-8 weeks before your region’s average first fall frost date. This gives them enough time to establish before the really cold weather hits.
- Prepare Seed Trays: Use sterile seed-starting mix in trays or individual pots.
- Planting Depth: Sow seeds about ¼ inch deep.
- Temperature & Light: Keep soil consistently moist and maintain a temperature of 60-70°F (15-21°C). Provide plenty of light, using grow lights if necessary, to prevent leggy seedlings.
- Thinning: Once seedlings develop a few true leaves, thin them to 3-4 inches apart.
Hardening Off Your Seedlings
Before transplanting outdoors, you must “harden off” your young plants. This process gradually acclimates them to outdoor conditions, preventing transplant shock.
Over 7-10 days, progressively expose them to increasing amounts of sun, wind, and cooler temperatures. Start with a few hours in a sheltered spot and gradually increase duration and exposure.
Planting Transplants Outdoors
When you’re ready to plant your hardened-off seedlings or store-bought transplants, follow these steps:
- Timing: Plant when temperatures are consistently cool, typically late summer to early fall. They develop their best colors when night temperatures consistently drop below 50°F (10°C).
- Spacing: Space plants 12-18 inches apart, depending on the expected mature size of the cultivar. Adequate spacing ensures good air circulation and prevents disease.
- Depth: Plant at the same depth they were in their containers.
- Watering: Water thoroughly immediately after planting to help settle the soil around the roots.
Ongoing Care for Vibrant Displays
Maintaining the health and beauty of your ornamental cabbage is straightforward with consistent care. A little attention goes a long way in ensuring a long-lasting, colorful show.
Watering Wisely
Ornamental cabbage prefers consistently moist soil, but never waterlogged. Check the soil moisture regularly by sticking your finger about an inch deep.
If it feels dry, it’s time to water. Reduce watering slightly in very cold weather, but don’t let the soil dry out completely.
Fertilization Needs
These plants are moderate feeders. Incorporate a balanced, slow-release granular fertilizer (e.g., 5-10-5 or 10-10-10 NPK) into the soil at planting time.
If your soil is already rich in organic matter, a lighter application or no additional fertilizer might be needed. Avoid high-nitrogen fertilizers once the plants are established, as this can promote leafy green growth at the expense of colorful centers.
The Power of Mulching
Applying a 2-3 inch layer of organic mulch around your plants is highly beneficial. Mulch helps retain soil moisture, suppress weeds, and insulate the soil from temperature fluctuations.
Good options include shredded leaves, straw, or pine needles. Keep the mulch a few inches away from the plant’s stem to prevent rot.
Pest and Disease Management
Like their edible relatives, ornamental cabbage can attract a few common pests and diseases. Vigilance is your best defense.
- Aphids: Small, soft-bodied insects that cluster on new growth. Blast them off with a strong stream of water or apply insecticidal soap.
- Cabbage Worms: Green caterpillars that chew holes in leaves. Hand-pick them off or use organic pesticides like Bt (Bacillus thuringiensis).
- Slugs and Snails: Leave slimy trails and irregular holes. Use slug bait or create barriers.
- Fungal Diseases: Such as downy mildew, can occur in damp, crowded conditions. Ensure good air circulation and avoid overhead watering, especially in the evening.
For more general brassica growing tips and pest prevention, you might find insights from growing other leafy greens helpful, such as those for how to plant and grow kale.
Winterizing and Extending the Display
One of the greatest joys of ornamental cabbage is its ability to withstand cold. Many varieties can tolerate light frosts and even hard freezes, often becoming more colorful as temperatures drop.
Cold Hardiness Tips
While hardy, extreme cold can still damage plants. In regions with very harsh winters, consider covering plants with a frost cloth or burlap on exceptionally cold nights.
For container-grown plants, you can move them to a more sheltered location, such as a covered porch or unheated garage, during severe cold snaps.
Harvesting for Arrangements
Although not typically eaten, the vibrant heads of ornamental cabbage make stunning additions to floral arrangements. Use sharp, clean pruners to cut the heads at the base of the plant.
The cut stems can last for several weeks in a vase with fresh water, bringing their unique beauty indoors.
Creative Landscaping Ideas With Ornamental Cabbage
Integrating ornamental cabbage into your landscape design can add significant visual interest during cooler seasons. Think beyond just planting them in a row.
Borders and Edging
Their compact, mounding habit makes them excellent for creating colorful borders along pathways, garden beds, or around the base of larger evergreens.
Stunning Container Displays
Ornamental cabbage excels in containers, either as a standalone statement or mixed with other cool-season plants. Combine them with pansies, violas, trailing ivy, or small evergreen shrubs for a dynamic arrangement.
Mixed Beds and Mass Plantings
Planting ornamental cabbage in drifts or groups creates a bold impact. Mix different color varieties for a patchwork effect, or combine them with other fall and winter stalwarts like mums, ornamental grasses, or conifer shrubs.
Troubleshooting Common Ornamental Cabbage Issues
Even with the best care, you might encounter a few hiccups. Here’s a quick guide to diagnose and solve common problems:
- Leaves turning yellow, especially lower ones:
- Cause: Overwatering, underwatering, or nitrogen deficiency.
- Solution: Check soil moisture. Ensure good drainage. If consistently moist, consider a balanced fertilizer.
- Lack of vibrant color:
- Cause: Insufficient sunlight or temperatures not cold enough.
- Solution: Ensure full sun exposure. Colors intensify as temperatures drop, so be patient.
- Holes in leaves:
- Cause: Pests like cabbage worms, slugs, or snails.
- Solution: Inspect plants thoroughly. Hand-pick pests, use appropriate organic controls (Bt for worms, bait for slugs).
- White powdery spots on leaves:
- Cause: Powdery mildew, a common fungal disease.
- Solution: Improve air circulation. Avoid overhead watering. Remove affected leaves. Apply a fungicide if severe.
- Leggy, stretched-out seedlings:
- Cause: Insufficient light during indoor seed starting.
- Solution: Provide more intense light, such as grow lights, closer to the seedlings.
Frequently Asked Questions About Ornamental Cabbage
Can You Eat Ornamental Cabbage?
While technically edible, ornamental cabbage is typically grown for its aesthetic appeal. Its leaves are often bitter and have a tougher texture compared to culinary cabbage or kale. It’s best enjoyed visually in your garden.
How Long Do Ornamental Cabbage Plants Last?
Ornamental cabbage is an annual plant, meaning it completes its life cycle in one growing season. However, in cool climates, it can provide vibrant color from fall through early winter, and sometimes even into early spring, depending on the severity of the winter.
Do Ornamental Cabbage Plants Need Frost to Get Their Color?
Yes, cool temperatures and light frosts are essential for ornamental cabbage to develop its most intense and vibrant colors. The cold stress triggers the production of pigments that give the leaves their striking pink, red, purple, and white hues.
What Can I Plant With Ornamental Cabbage?
Ornamental cabbage pairs beautifully with other cool-season plants. Consider planting them alongside pansies, violas, mums, fall-blooming asters, sedum, heuchera, or small evergreen shrubs like dwarf conifers for a varied and attractive display.
Why Is My Ornamental Cabbage Turning Green?
The most common reason for ornamental cabbage losing its vibrant color and turning green is insufficient light or temperatures that are too warm. Ensure your plants receive full sun, and remember that the best colors develop when night temperatures consistently drop below 50°F (10°C).
Conclusion
Bringing the striking beauty of ornamental cabbage into your landscape is a rewarding experience. These resilient and colorful plants offer an unparalleled opportunity to extend your garden’s season of interest, transforming drab fall and winter days into vibrant displays.
By following these expert tips on how to grow ornamental cabbage, from proper site selection and planting to ongoing care and troubleshooting, you’ll be well-equipped to cultivate a stunning, long-lasting show. Don’t let your garden go dormant this year; embrace the bold beauty of ornamental cabbage and enjoy its unique charm!
Taylor pairs an engineer's eye with years of hands-on work in soil, lawns and outdoor machinery. He tests ideas in his own garden, keeps tractors and mowers running himself, and speaks to local horticulture groups. Every Garden Aider guide is written to be practical, accurate and safe to follow.
“To bring life alive, you just need to mix some love with the compost, bedding, and gardening machines.”