Brassica oleracea (Acephala Group) 'Red Russian' ~ Red Russian Ornamental Kale

Brassica oleracea (Acephala Group) 'Red Russian' ~ Red Russian Ornamental KaleRed Russian Ornamental Kale is a cool season annual with deeply lobed edible basal foliage that purple stems and velvety grey green foliage that turns rich purple after frost. The foliage is crisp and very tender with mild nutty flavor and slightly sweet and earthy undertone. The leaves have the best flavor after the first frost. Best if grown in rich, consistently moist well drained loamy soils. Type: Annual Height: 2' 3' Spread: 0. 5 1' Spacing: 1'

Red Russian Ornamental Kale is a cool season annual with deeply lobed edible basal foliage that purple stems and velvety grey-green foliage that turns rich purple after frost.  The foliage is crisp and very tender with mild nutty flavor and  slightly sweet and earthy undertone.  The leaves have the best flavor after the first frost.  Best if grown in rich, consistently moist well-drained loamy soils.   

MAINTENANCE NEEDS: Low Maintenance.  A cool seasonal plant best grown in spring or fall.  Potential insect problems include cabbageworms, cabbage loopers, flea beetles, caterpillars, thrips, slugs and aphids. Root maggots may be a problem in some areas. Watch for leaf spots, blackleg, black rot and yellows.
LANDSCAPE USES:  Accents or Group Plantings, Borders, Wildlife Garden, Edible Garden, and Containers.

COMPANION PLANTS:  Dill, Agastache, Sage

IMAGES: cultivar413 from Fallbrook, California, 190908 073 Chicago Botanic Gdn - Heritage Garden, Europe Bed, Brassica oleracea Acephala group Red Russian-type Kale, Lavandula x allardii 'Meerlo' Variegated Lavender (48860964763), CC BY 2.0, (2) Photo by David J. Stang, Brassica oleracea Red Russian 0zz, CC BY-SA 4.0

 *As plants have ranges in appearance they may not appear as the images shown.