This annual pairs nicely with other cool-season favorites like pansies to create a colorful garden.
It thrives in cool weather, often taking center stage in the garden during spring and fall.
It will easily tolerate light frost, keeping its good looks through winter in Zones 8 and warmer.
Credit: Marty Baldwin
Flowering kale colors intensify as the temperatures drop, adding even more interest to late autumn gardens.
Pair flowering kale with pansies and other spring bloomers in early spring containers.
In the fall, flowering kale adds texture to pretty pots of chrysanthemums,black-eyed Susans, andornamental peppers.
Credit: Marty Baldwin
Flowering kale is right at home in garden-bed plantings, too.
Use it as a statement plant near entryways or patios.
you’re able to also start your own plants from seed.
Credit: Denny Schrock
Space plants 6 inches apart.
In warmer climates, partial afternoon shade is preferable during the hot summer months.
Light
Flowering kale grows best in sunny locations.
Credit: Peter Krumhardt
It tolerates light shade but develops richer color infull sun.
Keep it well-watered and give it at least 1 inch of water weekly if it doesnt rain.
Dont overwater because that causes it to rot.
Credit: Erica George Dines
Temperature and Humidity
Plants begin to develop colorful foliage when temperatures dip below 50F.
Once acclimated to a site, flowering kale canwithstand frost.
When nighttime temperatures reach the 60s regularly, kale will begin to look bedraggled.
Credit: Scott Little
Fertilizer
Fertilizing the plants with abalanced fertilizeronce at planting time is sufficient.
Dont fertilize them afterward; it can lead to poor coloration and leggy growth.
Other than that, remove any broken, diseased, or unsightly leaves.
Credit: Marty Baldwin
For a mixed planter, use at least a 3-gallon or 5-gallon container with large drainage holes.
Fill it with awell-draining potting mix.
If you spot slugs on your plants, put out shallowsaucers filled with beerat ground level.
Credit: Peter Krumhardt
The slugs will drown in the saucers.
Replace the beer frequently and discard the slugs you find in the saucers.
How to Propagate Flowering Kale
Flowering kale can be grown from seed.
Credit: Peter Krumhardt
Sow seeds 14 inch deep in pots filled with damp potting mix.
Keep them evenly moist.
At a temperature of around 70F, they will germinate in 10 to 14 days.
Credit: Illustration by Gary Palmer
The ideal temperature for the seedlings to grow is around 60F.Harden off the seedlingsbefore transplanting them outside.
For fall planting, start the seeds three months before your average first fall frost.
it’s possible for you to either start them in pots or direct seed them.
verify to transplant the seedlings several weeks before the first fall frost.
In warmer climates, it keeps its shiny leaves from November through March.
Peacock Red Flowering Kale
Peacock Red offers feathery leaves with rich purple-red centers.
Pigeon Red Flowering Kale
Pigeon Red offers purple-tinted leaves with rich purple-red centers.
The plants have uniform 6-inch heads on 24-inch stems.
Flowering Kale Companion Plants
Leadwort
For a fall show, plantleadwort.
This plant is also sometimes called plumbago, but its different from shrubby tropical plumbago.
Chrysanthemum
Chrysanthemumsare a must-have for the fall garden.
No other late-season flower delivers as much color as long and reliably as good ol mums.
Beautiful chrysanthemum flowers, available in several colors, bring new life to a garden in the fall.
They work exceptionally well incontainer plantings and pots.
Spring Vegetable Garden Plan
Enjoy springs freshest flavors with this fun and easy garden plan.
However, ornamental kale rarely flowers.
Flowering kale is edible but has a bitter flavor, and its leaves are usually reserved as culinary garnishes.
It has been bred for its striking forms and colors rather than for flavor.
For eating, grow kale instead.
