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Anyone who manages to grow ornamental cabbage at least once will not be able to part with it. Although this amazing plant appeared in the gardens relatively recently, it has already managed to win the love of many gardeners. And designers actively use it to create great compositions. The variety of its types, shapes and colors is also amazing. And it is already completely impossible to imagine that half a century ago this beauty was used only for animal feed. After all, ornamental cabbage, whose varieties currently number in the hundreds, was recently known only as a modest garden plant.
Varieties of ornamental cabbage in Our Country
The progenitor of all currently known varieties of ornamental cabbage was garden cabbage (Brassica oleracea). The homeland of this type of leafy cabbage can be considered the Mediterranean and Western Europe. At some point, Japan became interested in the decorative properties of this variety of cabbage. It was in this country that the most interesting and beautiful varieties of such a unique flower were bred. In Our Country, at the end of the last century, work on selective breeding of interesting types of this cabbage also intensified. As a result, from 2002 to 2010, about 12 varieties of ornamental cabbage of different ripening periods were registered in the State Register of Our Country.
Below will be presented the most interesting varieties of cabbage from the State Register of Our Country with a photo.
Assol
A plant of medium late ripening with a compact rosette of leaves up to 45 cm in diameter. It reaches a small size in height – about 35 cm.
The socket is painted light green around the edges. To the center of the flower, the color gradually turns into yellow-white. Plants show resistance to pests and diseases. Coloration may appear even without exposure to low temperatures.
Caprice
Mid-season variety with a compact and raised rosette with a diameter of up to 45 cm. Plant height is average up to 50 cm.
The color of the rosette is predominantly dark green, but in the center it gradually turns into bright crimson. The leaves have a slight wax coating. The surface of the leaves themselves is smooth. It is resistant to premature stalking, that is, it is able to maintain a compact appearance for a long time.
Coral
Mid-late variety with a spreading rosette up to 55 cm in diameter. Plant height is small, about 50 cm.
The rosette has a rich purple center, and a gray-green color prevails along the edges. The veins of the leaf are also painted in a purple hue, and the leaves themselves are strongly dissected, thanks to which the plants are highly decorative.
Colors of the East
It is one of the latest varieties of ornamental cabbage with a semi-spreading rosette of medium-sized leaves. The color is gray-green, smoothly turning into bright purple. It impresses with its decorative effect, which is achieved due to a rounded leaf with a strong waviness along the edge and a purple color of the central veins.
Robin
Plants of mid-season ripening capable of reaching a height of one and a half meters. The leaves are strongly corrugated on long petioles drooping down. Their color is predominantly purple-red. A very showy variety.
The Snow Queen
Medium-late cabbage with a compact type rosette of small height. The color of the rosette is green along the edge, in the center it turns into yellow-white. The veins of the leaves are also yellow-white, they themselves are strongly dissected, which gives additional exoticism to the plants.
Relay race
Mid-season palm type plants. The flower itself reaches a small height, up to 40 cm, but in diameter it can grow up to 50 cm. Drooping leaves on long petioles with strongly corrugated edges have a light green color.
Basics of classification of ornamental cabbage
Currently, all varieties of ornamental cabbage known in the world are conventionally divided into two groups:
- To the first group (palm-shaped) belong to plants, usually reaching a height of one meter or even more. Although in the same group there are also very low flowers, no more than 50 cm tall. These varieties do not form a pronounced rosette of leaves, therefore they are often called leafy. They are more like small densely leafy palm trees. Their leaves come in different shades, usually of a single color, strongly corrugated and hang down on long petioles. In width, due to the density of the leaves, these varieties of ornamental cabbage can form very voluminous compositions.
- To the second group of ornamental cabbages (rosette) belong to varieties with a pronounced regular rosette of leaves. They are more like a traditional rose, peony or dahlia flower. Sometimes sockets are flat, sometimes raised, forming real heads of cabbage. In width, some of them can reach one meter, while others form fairly compact rosettes, comparable to the size of ordinary flowers. The leaves are often lacy and usually multi-colored. That is, in one outlet, 2,3 or even 4 shades of color are combined with smooth transitions. The color can be quite even, and sometimes with spots, strokes, stripes and other decorations.
Japanese varieties
Varieties of ornamental cabbage, bred in Japan, are by far the most popular and common among amateur flower growers. Almost all of them belong to the second group and form beautiful and delicate heads of various colors. The names of these varieties are purely Japanese.
Tokyo
They are small plants up to 30 cm in height. Along the edge of the outlet, the leaves are always dark green, but the middle, in contrast, can be of various colors: pink, white, raspberry. The edge of the leaves is only slightly wavy. In the photo below, Tokyo is pink.
Osaka
The plants are similar to the previous variety, but the rosette is much larger, it can reach a height of 62 cm, and its diameter is about 46 cm. The leaves are most often corrugated. There are varieties with pink, white and red centers.
Nagoya
Plants are also very large with unusual leaves, decorated with thick fringe. The color can be white, pink, red, or a combination of the two. The other shade is always green.
Piglon
A very unusual cabbage, which is very popular. Rosettes are very small in size, the leaves are neat, almost smooth, evoke an unambiguous association with delicate roses. Sometimes the leaves are slightly corrugated, which only adds additional sophistication to these plants.
coral queen
A very unusual variety, similar both in name and in appearance to cabbage, is coral. The leaves are very dissected, bright red.
Palm varieties
Among the varieties of the first group there are very interesting varieties worthy of decorating any garden.
green curly high
This cabbage can reach a height of 150 cm or more. It looks great separately growing in groups, as well as in compositions with coniferous plants.
red curly high
The variety is very similar to the previous one, but has an original red-burgundy color.
green branched
The leaves of this variety are originally folded, which gives the plant an attractive appearance. It reaches a height of about 70 cm, and the leaves can be of various shades: white, pink, yellow, green and red.
leafy kale
This group of ornamental cabbages also includes kale. She may well decorate the site, although she also has a delicious taste. And it is not known what attracts more in it – the original appearance or the unique taste.
Other interesting varieties
Among the endless variety of varieties of ornamental cabbage, a few more are worthy of mention, which have been most popular in recent years. Most of them are hybrids, so don’t try to save and seed them.
Heron
This group of varieties may include flowers with white, pink, red foliage. Plants can reach a height of 90 cm. The rosette of leaves is a bit like a giant rose. Sometimes this cabbage is used for cutting, cutting off all the lower leaves, and leaving only the very top. The result can be a very original floral composition.
Crane
This group of hybrids is a bit like a heron, but much smaller. It also makes an excellent cut.
Pavlin
This variety has very beautiful cut leaves, a bit reminiscent of Coral cabbage. Plant height is small, up to 30 cm.
Sunrise
The review of ornamental cabbages ends with a very tender, like a fragrant rose, and therefore a very popular variety.
Conclusion
All varieties of ornamental cabbage are very attractive and there is a place for any of them in your garden.
