After leaves fall, you can still enjoy autumn color
It won't be long before Jack Frost visits your garden, pilfering the color from blooms from most annuals. Instead of surrendering the color in your garden to Mr. Frost, fight back by planting ornamental cabbage and kale.
There is little difference between ornamental cabbage and kale. They are both members of the Brassica family whose other cousins include broccoli, cauliflower, kohlrabi, Brussels sprouts and, of course, edible cabbage and kale.
Botanically speaking, ornamental cabbage and kale are both kales, but people usually apply the term ornamental cabbage to varieties with broad, flat leaves and ornamental kale to types with curly or ruffled foliage. Plants that grow upright with narrow leaves are also referred to as ornamental kale.
Call them anything you would like as long as you plant some in your garden or fall containers. The earlier in fall they are purchased, the less colorful they will be at the garden center. Early in the season, ornamental cabbages and kales are mostly green with just hints of the color to come.
As the mercury in your thermometer drops, their color begins to intensify and, with the first frost, their colors turn bright and beautiful. The best color is achieved in full sun, but they are still striking in light shade.
Sometimes, as plants sit on garden center benches, the lower leaves begin to decline. Don't let that stop you from purchasing these plants. Just pull off unattractive leaves and plant them deeper to hide naked stems.
They are so easy to grow. Water well when planting and, when planted in the garden, they may not need any additional watering if rainfall is sufficient. Potting mix in containers can begin to dry before watering plants.
Partner them in the garden with other fall bloomers like asters or sedum, or plant them in large groups and stop traffic. They are also eye-catching planted at the front of the border or wherever you want a pop of color. Plant them in containers with purple fountain grass, mums and pansies. Add a mini pumpkin and some gourds for another nod to fall.
Frost will gather on frilly edges creating beautiful, intricate, frosty patterns. Depending on the weather, ornamental cabbage and kale can still be performing during the holidays. A few years ago, it was still pretty in a container in early December. Instead of removing it, I just added some greens and red berries and the container was still gorgeous at Christmas.
Plant some ornamental cabbage and kale in your garden, window boxes or containers and extend the season until a blanket of snow tucks the landscape in for the winter.
• Diana Stoll is a horticulturist, garden writer and speaker. She blogs at gardenwithdiana.com.