- Ornamental cabbage…kale copyright 2012 Pamela Breitberg
Out for a brisk winter walk yesterday and slowed down when I spotted this showy ornamental kale (brassica oleracea) along side a front walkway. The pellets of icy snow had landed a few moments earlier adding contrasting texture to the ruffle filled image. Ornamental cabbage and kale have the same genetics with ruffled varieties usually considered to be kale. Colors change from greens to vibrant purples when temperatures plunge, drawing attention in the otherwise neutral shades of winter dormancy. Kale and cabbage grow best in cool temps, and have been known to survive as cold as 5 degrees farenheit when rabbits and persons aren’t too enticed to stop for a chilled snack.