Brian Minter: Ornamental kales, cabbages enliven gardens with colour

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While escorting a tour of Japanese gardens many years ago, we happened to pass by the Sakata Seed Company’s main office, which was surrounded by colourful display gardens that looked spectacular. This was quite unexpected because most Japanese gardens and displays were a masterful blend of greens. Sakata Seeds are known for their breeding of ornamental kale and seeing their creative use of these vibrant plants in so many intricate patterns was amazing. They continue to be a leader in the breeding of ornamental kale, and in 2025 they will be introducing some exciting new varieties.  I had the pleasure of meeting Hiroshi Sakata last year while he was on an All-American Selections tour in the Lower Mainland, and he spoke passionately about the use of ornamental cabbage and kale in our fall gardens.

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Unfortunately, we use too few of them in our parks and home gardens and that is something we should change because these plants are incredibly diverse and environmentally friendly. In late summer and fall, they are a wonderful source of water for bees. After a rainfall, or even a heavy dew in September and October, kale leaves collect and hold tiny, shallow pools of water which is an ideal situation for bees and other pollinators. Depending on the type of winter, many kale plants will not only overwinter but will also produce flowers the following spring, making them some of the best pollinator plants for a wide range of insects, including butterflies.

While many gardeners may be unaware, the floral industry is certainly tuned into the uniqueness of taller varieties of ornamental cabbages for use as cut flowers in arrangements. There are a few series, such as the Crane, Sunset and Condor varieties, which have smaller 10-centimetre size flower heads in pinks, whites and rich purples. While many ornamental cabbage varieties have smooth foliage, the Crane Feather Series has serrated foliage in the same colour selection.

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Usually, these tall varieties are started from seed in June and early July and grow up to one metre in height. They remain green, just like their edible cousins, but once the cooler evenings of late August and September set in, they begin to colour into rich shades of purple and pink. The white varieties can remain white or develop a pink tinge in their centre, making them quite attractive. Cut-flower growers are becoming quite creative by dyeing the white varieties a wide range of bright colours. Whatever their colour, they will all blend nicely with other fall cut flowers to create beautiful seasonal bouquets

Today’s trend of growing one’s own cutting garden is a great idea, but many of us are missing out on the spectacular fall flowers produced by ornamental cabbages which, depending upon the winter weather, may last well into the Christmas season. Even if you don’t pick them, they will create beautiful autumn colour to be enjoyed with fall asters and late-blooming heliopsis, like H. Autumn Gold. As we near the Christmas season, some growers and many florists use a glitter spray on the flower heads for added glitz.

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The majority of ornamental kale and cabbage plants are grown for garden and container colour which can last well into winter and beyond. Planted in the ground and out of cold winter winds, they are really quite hardy as many varieties are bred to have the genetic cold tolerance of Siberian kale. If we  experience unusually cold spells, a simple mulching or a wrap of a protective cloth with a 10 C rating, such as N-Sulate, will see them through until the weather moderates.

There is quite a range of brassica varieties from the smooth-leafed ornamental cabbage to the very ruffled leaves of ornamental kale. I love the Songbird Series, which is a little more upright and has intense colouring. It, along with the Pigeon Series, are the smooth leaf types. They have medium-sized flower heads which are nice to work with in garden plantings and in containers, and both provide the option of doing some very creative design work.

One of the larger growing types, the Peacock Series, has deeply serrated foliage which creates a unique feathery effect. They come only in red or white, but they are real attention-getters, especially the white Peacock when contrasted with darker green foliaged companions.

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The most recognizably traditional kale are the Kamome and the Nagoya varieties with their ruffled outer green edges, contrasted nicely with intense pink, purple or white curly centres. They truly look amazing and vibrant in a fall garden.

A rather odd duck, but one I really like, the AAS award-winning Glamour Red has unusual waxy-looking foliage with intense hot pink or red ruffled centres. If you like something really ruffled, you’ll love the Yokohama mix. It’s so fluffy and curled, it really catches your eye and spices up any container.

As our weather gets cooler, especially in the evenings, the colour of all these varieties only intensifies, making them all stand out even more in your pots or gardens. I think they are great fun. If you’re entertaining, pick off a few leaves from the bottom and use them as an attractive garnish on your dinner plates. They can be eaten, but they don’t have the same great flavour as our traditional edible varieties.

Early in the season, keep an eye out for the larvae of the cabbage butterfly moth because they love to munch on the leaves of cabbage and kale. However, an occasional application of organic BTK will keep them at bay.

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Have some fun with these amazing ornamental kale and cabbage varieties. They will certainly enhance your fall and winter plantings.

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