Brassica oleracea

Plant Family

Brassicaceae

Plant Botanical Name

Brassica oleracea

Photo by: FELDER RUSHING

Plant Common Name

Broccoli, Cabbage, Cauliflower, Collards, Kale, Kohlrabi

General Description

Cabbage, kale, collard greens, broccoli, cauliflower, Brussels sprouts, kohlrabi, and other important green vegetables all descend from this short-lived perennial from coastal areas of western and southern Europe.

In the wild, Brassica oleracea forms dense over-wintering rosettes of large, fleshy, lobed, gray-green leaves, which give rise in spring to tall spikes of pale yellow, four-petaled flowers. Developed over many centuries, cultivated forms may have loose or densely packed rosettes of basal leaves (kale, collard greens, and cabbage) or stem leaves (Brussels sprouts), bulbous stems (kohlrabi), or large edible florets (broccoli and cauliflower). The foliage is typically thick, waxy, and deeply veined, and may be medium to dark green, green-gray, or purple-red in color. Plants may be annual or biennial. Hundreds of cultivars of varying sizes, shapes and colors exist and days to harvest vary widely depending on the cultivar.

Botanically, this diverse species is divided into the acephala group (kales, collards, and other loose-leaved vegetables); alboglabra group (annual Asian vegetables including Chinese broccoli and Chinese kale); botrytis group (cauliflower and broccoli); capitata group (cabbages); gemmifera group (Brussels sprouts); gongylodes group (kohlrabi); italica group (Italian broccoli types); and tronchunda group (Portugese cabbage and other cabbage-like annuals with spreading leaves).

These cool weather crops prefer full sun and fertile, organic-rich garden soil with ample drainage. Most are sown in the chill of early spring or in fall several weeks before first frost. In addition, many selections, including cabbages and kales, taste better if harvested after the first fall frost. These wonderful, variable vegetables are generally easy to grow and very tasty. Ornamental selections such as flowering kales are beautiful in fall gardens and containers.

Characteristics

• AHS Heat Zone

  6 - 1

• USDA Hardiness Zone

  6 - 11

• Sunset Zone

  A1, A2, A3, H1, H2, 1a, 1b, 2a, 2b, 3a, 3b, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24

• Plant Type

  Vegetable

• Sun Exposure

  Full Sun, Partial Sun

• Height

  12"-36" / 30.5cm - 91.4cm (24)

• Width

  12"-18" / 30.5cm - 45.7cm (12)

• Bloom Time

  Spring, Late Spring, Early Summer

• Native To

  Europe, Mediterranean, Canary Islands, Northern Africa

Growing Conditions

• Soil pH

  Neutral, Alkaline

• Soil Drainage

  Well Drained

• Soil type

  Loam, Sand

• Growth Rate

  Fast

• Water Requirements

  Average Water

• Habit

  Rosette/Stemless

• Seasonal Interest

  Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter

Ornamental Features

• Flower Interest

  Showy

• Flower Color

  Yellow

• Foliage Color (Spring)

  Red, Green, Purple, Blue Green, Gray Green, Dark Green

• Foliage Color (Summer)

  Red, Purple, Blue Green, Gray Green, Dark Green

• Foliage Color (Fall)

  Red, Green, Purple, Blue Green, Gray Green, Dark Green

• Foliage Color (Winter)

  Red, Purple, Blue Green, Gray Green, Dark Green

• Fragrant Flowers

  Yes

• Fragrant Fruit

  No

• Fragrant Foliage

  Yes

• Bark or Stem Fragrant

  No

• Flower Petal Number

  Single

• Repeat Bloomer

  No

• Showy Fruit

  No

• Edible Fruit

  No

• Showy Foliage

  Yes

• Foliage Texture

  Bold

• Foliage Sheen

  Matte

• Evergreen

  Semi-Evergreen

• Showy Bark

  No

Special Characteristics

• Usage

  Bedding Plant, Container, Edible, Herb / Vegetable

• Sharp or Has Thorns

  No

• Invasive

  No

• Attracts

  Butterflies

• Self-Sowing

  Yes