As time passed, the plants were disseminated by early explorers and merchants around the world. For many centuries, Chinese food relied on the use of kale, whereas Japanese cuisine relied more heavily on decorative leaf kinds. Ornamental brassicas were popular as bedding plants in cottage gardens by the 17th century. In the 1930s, decorative kale appeared in seed catalogs for the first time after its arrival from Japan in the 20th century. The rest, as they say, was history.
Breeders are now creating decorative kales and cabbages by combining edible kale varieties with vibrant foliar colors. The Brassicaceae family, which includes many of our favorite cool-weather veggies, includes them (although regarding the latter, some kids may say otherwise). Ornamental kale and cabbage plants, on the other hand, are produced purely for aesthetic purposes. Even though they are edible and have been used as decorations in dishes, their bitter taste and cabbage-like fragrance leave much to be desired. Despite this, the plants’ brightly colored leaves and interesting texture make them popular choices for interior designers and home gardeners alike.
The enormous size of decorative kale and cabbage plants is due to commercially marketed varieties that reach 30 cm in diameter and 38 cm in height. Contrary to popular belief, these plants do not bear flowers, despite their other common name of blossoming kale (and cabbage). Central leaves blossom, revealing rosette-like cores that are truly the “flowers.” The contrast between the darker outer leaves and the lighter inside leaves creates a dramatic visual impact.
Technically, all forms of kale, even ornamental varieties, include cabbage plants (comprising the Acephala group of B. oleracea). Decorative kale has severely serrated or ruffled leaves, and ornamental cabbage has wide, smooth, and rounded leaves, depending on the categorization. There are two distinct types of decorative cabbage and kale leaves: those that form heads and those that form tight rosettes.
A wide range of colors may be seen in the leaf of decorative kale and cabbage plants, regardless of kind. Temperatures below 60 degrees Fahrenheit (15 degrees Celsius) for up to four weeks cause the leaves’ hues to develop and deepen. Frosty weather limits the development of chlorophyll, allowing the plant’s underlying tones of white, pink, blue-green, purple, and bicolor combinations to form. This is the reason behind this.
Popular B. oleracea cultivars include ‘Chidori, ‘Color Up,’ and ‘Osaka’ decorative cabbages with curly leaf edges and white, pink, or red cores, as well as ‘Peacock,’ which are compact hybrids with white, pink, or red centers (deeply serrated leaves in white, red or purple). Japan is the source of most new decorative varieties, thus series such as “Osaka,” “Nagoya,” “Yokohama,” and “Tokyo” were logically titled after their hometowns.
In the autumn and winter, decorative kales and cabbages are a certain way to draw attention to modern floral arrangements, thanks to their eye-catching leaf and vibrant hues. They are wonderful filler plants for bouquets and arrangements because of their long-lasting leaves and rich volume. While decorative kale leaves may be used as garnish by both professional and amateur cooks alike, the bitter flavor isn’t universally appealing.
Cream, green, pink, purple, blue, red, and white are all available.
