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Anyone who manages to grow ornamental cabbage at least once will never be able to part with it. Although this amazing plant appeared in gardens relatively recently, it has already won the love of many gardeners. And designers actively use it to create magnificent compositions. The variety of its types, shapes and colors is also amazing. And it is absolutely impossible to imagine that this beauty half a century ago was used only for animal feed. After all decorative cabbage, the varieties of which now number in the hundreds, was only recently known only as a modest garden plant.
Varieties of ornamental cabbage in Russia
The ancestor of all currently known varieties of ornamental cabbage was cabbage (Brassica oleracea). The Mediterranean and Western Europe can be considered the homeland of this type of kale. At a certain point, people in 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 Russia, 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 Russia.
Below will be presented the most interesting varieties of cabbage from the State Register of Russia with photos.
Assol
A plant of medium late ripening with a compact rosette of leaves up to 45 cm in diameter. It reaches a small height - about 35 cm.
The rosette is painted light green around the edges. Towards the center of the flower the color gradually turns yellow-white. Plants show resistance to pests and diseases. Coloring may appear even without exposure to low temperatures.
Caprice
A mid-season variety with a compact and raised rosette with a diameter of up to 45 cm. The average plant height is up to 50 cm.
The color of the rosette is predominantly dark green, but in the center it smoothly turns into bright crimson. The leaves have a slight waxy coating. The surface of the leaves themselves is smooth. It is resistant to premature stemming, that is, it is able to maintain a compact appearance for a long time.
Coral
A mid-late variety with a spreading rosette up to 55 cm in diameter. The plant height is small, about 50 cm.
The rosette has a deep purple center, and the edges are dominated by gray-green color. The leaf veins 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, gradually turning into bright purple. It impresses with its decorativeness, which is achieved due to the rounded leaf with strong wavy edges and the purple color of the central veins.
Robin
Plants of mid-season ripening can reach a height of one and a half meters. The leaves are strongly corrugated on long petioles and droop downwards. Their color is predominantly purple-red. A very effective variety.
The Snow Queen
Mid-late cabbage with a compact rosette of leaves of small height. The color of the rosette is green along the edge, turning yellow-white in the center. 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-shaped 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 are light green in 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 short flowers, no more than 50 cm in height. These varieties do not form a pronounced rosette of leaves, therefore they are often called leaf varieties. They are more like small leafy palms. Their leaves come in different shades, usually of a single color, are highly 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 (rosettes) belong to varieties with a pronounced regular rosette of leaves. They are more similar to the traditional rose, peony or dahlia flower. Sometimes the rosettes are flat, sometimes raised, forming real heads of cabbage. Some of them can reach one meter in width, 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 they combine 2,3 or even 4 shades of color with smooth transitions. The color can be quite even, and sometimes with spots, streaks, stripes and other decorations.
Japanese varieties
Varieties of ornamental cabbage bred in Japan are by far the most popular and widespread among amateur gardeners. Almost all of them belong to the second group and form beautiful and delicate heads of cabbage 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 rosette, the leaves are always dark green, but the middle, in contrast, can be of various colors: pink, white, crimson. The edges of the leaves are 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, can reach 62 cm in height, and its diameter is about 46 cm. The leaves are most often corrugated. There are varieties with pink, white and red centers.
Nagoya
The plants are also very large with unusual leaves decorated with thick fringe. The color can be white, pink, red or a combination of two. The other shade is always green.
Piglon
A very unusual cabbage that is very popular. The rosettes are very small in size, the leaves are neat and almost smooth, causing 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 in name and appearance to Russian cabbage - coral. The leaves are very dissected, bright red in color.
Palm varieties
Among the varieties of the first group there are very interesting varieties that are worthy of decorating any garden.
Green curly high
This cabbage can reach a height of 150 cm or more. Looks great growing separately 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 curled, 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 leafy cabbages. Kale cabbage. It may well decorate the area, although it also has a delicious taste. And it is unknown what is more attractive about it – the original appearance or the unique taste.
Other interesting varieties
Among the endless variety of varieties of ornamental cabbage, several more are worthy of mention and have enjoyed the greatest popularity in recent years. Most of them are hybrids, so don't try to save and collect seeds from them.
Heron
Flowers with white, pink, and red foliage may belong to this group of varieties. Plants can reach a height of 90 cm. The rosette of leaves slightly resembles 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 looks a bit like a heron, but is much smaller in size. It also makes an excellent cut.
Peacock
This variety has very beautiful split leaves, a bit like Coral cabbage. Plant height is small, up to 30 cm.
Sunrise
The review of ornamental cabbages ends with a very delicate, fragrant rose-like, and therefore very popular variety.
Conclusion
All varieties of ornamental cabbage are very attractive and there is a place for any of them in your garden.
