Kale Flowering Plants – Your Complete Guide To Stunning Ornamental

ByRimon Chowdhury Updated on

Have you ever walked past a garden in the crisp autumn air and been stopped in your tracks by what looks like a giant, frilly flower in vibrant shades of pink, purple, and cream? Or perhaps you’ve been tending your own vegetable patch, only to see your trusty kale plants suddenly shoot up and burst into a spray of delicate yellow blossoms. It’s a common experience, and it often leaves gardeners wondering what’s going on.

You’re in the right place. Many gardeners are unsure how to handle these beautiful displays. Are they a sign of failure or a happy accident? The truth is, understanding kale flowering plants unlocks a whole new level of beauty and utility in your garden, turning a simple vegetable into a four-season superstar.

In this complete guide, we’ll walk you through everything you need to know, just like a friend sharing their best garden secrets. We’ll cover the two main types of flowering kale, how to grow them for jaw-dropping color, the surprising benefits they offer (for you and the pollinators!), and how to troubleshoot any issues that pop up along the way.

Get ready to transform your garden with one of nature’s most resilient and beautiful plants.

What Exactly Are Kale Flowering Plants? The Two Types Explained

First things first, let’s clear up a common point of confusion. The term “kale flowering plants” can refer to two different, though related, scenarios. Understanding the difference is the key to mastering them in your garden.

When Your Edible Kale “Bolts” (And Why It’s a Good Thing!)

If you’re growing kale for your kitchen (like Lacinato or Curly Kale), you might see it send up a tall stalk that produces small, four-petaled yellow flowers. This process is called bolting. It’s a natural part of the plant’s life cycle, usually triggered by changes in day length and temperature, signaling that it’s time to produce seeds.

Many gardeners see bolting as the end of the harvest, but I encourage you to see it differently! These flowers are not only beautiful but also delicious, with a sweet, broccoli-like flavor perfect for salads. Plus, they are a vital early-season food source for bees and other beneficial insects. This is a perfect example of eco-friendly kale flowering plants in action.

Ornamental Kale: The True “Flowering” Star of the Garden

When most people talk about flowering kale, they’re referring to ornamental kale (Brassica oleracea). These are the spectacular, rose-like plants you see in fall and winter containers and garden beds. While they are technically the same species as edible kale, they have been specially bred for their stunning looks, not their flavor.

Instead of a traditional flower, the entire central head of leaves forms a colorful rosette. The color isn’t in the petals but in the leaves themselves, which intensify as the weather gets colder. Don’t worry—these flowers are perfect for beginners!

How to Grow Stunning Kale Flowering Plants: A Step-by-Step Guide

Ready to add these beauties to your garden? Following this simple kale flowering plants guide will ensure you get vibrant, healthy plants that last for months. This is how to kale flowering plants for maximum impact.

Step 1: Choose the Right Varieties

The variety you pick will determine the color and texture of your display. Look for seeds or starts specifically labeled as “ornamental” or “flowering” kale. Some popular series include:

  • ‘Nagoya’ Series: Known for its incredibly frilly, crinkled leaves in shades of red, pink, and white.
  • ‘Peacock’ Series: Features more feathery, deeply serrated leaves that look like colorful plumes.
  • ‘Crane’ Series: These have a more upright growth habit with smoother, rounded leaves, resembling a giant rose. Perfect for bouquets!
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Step 2: Get the Timing Right for Planting

The secret to incredible ornamental kale is planting at the right time. They need to establish themselves in the late summer or early fall to be ready for the cool temperatures that bring out their best color.

Aim to plant them about 6 to 10 weeks before the first expected frost. This gives them enough time to grow to a good size while the weather is still relatively mild. Planting too early can lead to leggy plants with less intense color.

Step 3: Prepare the Soil and Plant Correctly

Like their edible cousins, ornamental kale loves rich, well-draining soil. Before planting, amend your garden bed or container with a generous amount of compost or well-rotted manure. This provides the nutrients they need for lush growth.

When planting, give them some space! A spacing of about 12-18 inches apart allows for good air circulation, which helps prevent disease. Plant them at the same depth they were in their nursery pot, and water them in thoroughly to help settle the roots.

Step 4: Watering and Fertilizing Best Practices

Consistency is key. Keep the soil evenly moist, especially during the first few weeks after planting. Once established, they are fairly drought-tolerant but will look their best with about one inch of water per week, either from rain or your hose.

A little food goes a long way. Use a balanced, all-purpose liquid fertilizer at half-strength every 2-3 weeks after planting. Stop fertilizing once the central head begins to show vibrant color, as too much nitrogen at this stage can make the colors less intense.

The Surprising Benefits of Kale Flowering Plants in Your Garden

These plants are more than just a pretty face! Integrating them into your garden offers a host of advantages. Understanding the benefits of kale flowering plants will make you love them even more.

A Feast for Your Eyes: Unbeatable Winter Color

This is their primary claim to fame. When most other plants have faded, ornamental kale hits its stride. The cool temperatures of autumn and early winter trigger the production of pigments called anthocyanins, turning the central leaves from green to brilliant shades of purple, pink, and creamy white. They can often provide color right through the snow!

A Buffet for Pollinators: Supporting Local Ecosystems

If you let your edible kale bolt in the spring, you’re doing your local ecosystem a huge favor. Those early yellow flowers are one of the first reliable food sources for sleepy bees and other pollinators emerging from winter hibernation. This is a cornerstone of growing sustainable kale flowering plants.

Edibility: Can You Eat Flowering Kale?

Here’s a question I get all the time. The answer is yes, they are all edible! However, ornamental varieties have been bred for beauty, not taste. Their leaves tend to be much tougher and more bitter than culinary kale. They are perfectly safe to use as a garnish or to add a bit of color to a dish, but don’t expect them to be the star of your salad.

Sustainable Gardening: Saving Seeds for Next Season

Letting your edible kale flower and go to seed is a fantastic way to practice sustainable gardening. Once the flowers fade and form long, thin seed pods that turn brown and dry, you can harvest them. Store the tiny black seeds in a cool, dry place, and you’ll have free kale plants for next year!

Troubleshooting Common Problems with Kale Flowering Plants

Even the toughest plants can run into trouble. Don’t worry—most issues are easy to fix. Here are some common problems with kale flowering plants and how to solve them.

Pesky Pests: Cabbage Worms and Aphids

The most common culprits are the small green caterpillars known as cabbage worms. They can chew holes in the leaves, ruining the ornamental effect. Aphids can also cluster on the undersides of leaves.

The Solution: The best defense is a good offense. Check your plants regularly and hand-pick any cabbage worms you see. For a larger infestation, an organic spray containing Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) is highly effective against caterpillars. A strong spray of water from the hose can often dislodge aphids, or you can use an insecticidal soap for stubborn colonies.

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Common Diseases: Downy Mildew and Root Rot

Overhead watering and poor air circulation can lead to fungal issues like downy mildew (yellow spots on leaves) or root rot (mushy, decaying base).

The Solution: Water the soil, not the plant. Water in the morning so the leaves have time to dry during the day. Ensure you’ve spaced your plants correctly from the start. If you suspect root rot, unfortunately, the plant is usually too far gone and should be removed to prevent it from spreading.

Leggy Growth or Lack of Color

If your plants are tall and spindly with weak color, the issue is likely too much heat or not enough sun. Ornamental kale needs cool temperatures to color up and at least 6 hours of direct sunlight per day to stay compact.

The Solution: While you can’t change the weather, you can ensure you’re planting at the right time of year (early fall). Choose a spot in your garden that gets plenty of direct sun. If your plants are already leggy, there isn’t much you can do, but take it as a learning experience for next season!

Frequently Asked Questions About Kale Flowering Plants

Do flowering kale plants come back every year?

Kale is a biennial, which means its natural life cycle takes two years. It grows leaves in the first year and (if it survives winter) produces flowers and seeds in the second. Ornamental kale is typically grown as a cool-season annual for its first-year foliage display and is removed in the spring.

Can you eat the leaves of ornamental flowering kale?

Yes, all kale and cabbage varieties are edible. However, ornamental types are bred for looks and tend to have a bitter, tough texture. They are best used as a dramatic garnish rather than a main ingredient.

Why are my flowering kale plants not coloring up?

The most likely reason is temperature. Ornamental kale needs cool nights (below 50°F or 10°C) to trigger the vibrant colors. Be patient! As autumn deepens, their colors will become much more intense. Too much nitrogen fertilizer can also inhibit color development.

How long do kale flowering plants last in the garden?

In most climates, ornamental kale will look fantastic from early fall all the way through winter. They can often withstand frost and even snow, becoming a beautiful focal point in a winter landscape. They will typically start to decline or bolt (send up a flower stalk) when the weather warms up in the spring.

Your Garden’s Next Chapter Awaits

There you have it—everything you need to embrace the world of kale flowering plants. Whether you’re enjoying the unexpected beauty of a bolting vegetable or planning a show-stopping display of ornamental varieties, you now have the knowledge to do it with confidence.

Remember that gardening is a journey of discovery. These plants offer a wonderful lesson in finding beauty in all stages of a plant’s life and prove that the garden’s show doesn’t have to end when summer does. This complete kale flowering plants care guide should give you all the tools you need for success.

So go ahead, plant some ornamental kale in that empty container, or let your edible kale reach for the sky. You’ll be rewarded with stunning color, happy pollinators, and a deeper connection to the rhythms of your garden. Happy growing!

Rimon Chowdhury
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