Brassica oleracea

Common Names

Cabbage, Broccoli, Red Cabbage, Ornamental Cabbage, Kale, Brussels Sprouts

Summary

Brassica oleracea is a species in the Brassicaceae family that includes cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower, kale, Brussels sprouts, collards, Savoy cabbage, and kohlrabi, as well as ornamental forms. The wild form is a tall biennial or perennial that forms a rosette of large fleshy gray-green leaves, with a second year producing a woody spike bearing clusters of yellow four-petaled flowers. It has eight major cultivar groups and has been bred into numerous varieties ranging from edible greens and heads to ornamental rosettes. It is a cool-season crop that thrives in spring or fall, preferring full sun with rich, loamy, moist, well-drained soil. These crops are heavy feeders requiring steady moisture and nutrients, and crop rotation helps prevent soil-borne diseases. Pests such as cabbage worms, loopers, flea beetles, slugs, and aphids, and diseases like leaf spot and black rot may occur. Leaves of edible varieties are eaten raw or cooked, and edible forms can be grown in home gardens, containers, or landscape plantings; ornamental forms are grown for foliage, are not edible, and are commonly used in borders, edgings, and containers. Color intensifies in cool weather (below 50°F), with survival to 5°F, often lasting into November or December.

Lifecycle

Biennial, annual, perennial, short-lived perennial

Height

0.5-10 feet

Spread

12-24 inches

Hardiness Zones

Zones 2a-11b

Sunlight Requirements

Ideally full sun; tolerates partial sun or partial shade, with partial afternoon shade in warmer climates.

Soil Type

Fertile, well-drained, moderately moist soil with pH 6.0–7.5.

Soil Drainage

Moist but well-drained soil

Soil pH

6.0-7.5, Preference for alkaline soils (pH above 7)

Bloom Color

White, Yellow

Bloom Time

Fall

Foliage Color

Foliage color varies by variety; common colors include green, blue-green, grayish-green, purple, red/burgundy, pink, and white

Fall Foliage Color

Green, Purple, Red, White, Pink

Leaf Lifecycle

Other

Growth Rate

Growth rate varies by variety, roughly 55–120 days to maturity

Seasons of Interest

Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter

Propagation Methods

Seeds

Attracts Wildlife

Bees, butterflies, pollen beetles, and pigeons are attracted