Kale - Ornamental Curly Purple

Common Name:
Ornamental Kale 'Curly Purple'

Description:
Ornamental Kale 'Curly Purple' is a striking, decorative plant prized for its deeply frilled, ruffled leaves in shades of rich purple and green. While technically edible, it is primarily grown for its bold, colourful foliage, making it a popular choice for garden borders, pots, and landscape displays. This cold-hardy plant thrives in Melbourne’s cooler months, with its colours intensifying as temperatures drop. It grows best in well-drained soil with full sun to part shade, requiring moderate watering. While it does not flower in the traditional sense, it produces small yellow blooms if left to bolt in warmer weather. This kale variety adds texture and vibrancy to garden beds, particularly in autumn and winter.

Form:

• Shrub - Clumping / Grass-like / Mounding

Mature Size:

• Height: 30–45 cm
• Width: 30–40 cm

Aspect:

• Full Sun
• Part Shade

Flowering:

• Flowers in Spring (if left to bolt)

Flower Colour:

• Yellow (only if bolting)

Key Attributes:

• Suitable for Pots
• Edible (but grown for ornamental purposes)
• Cold Hardy
• Annual (grown as an annual, but technically biennial)

Toxicity:

• Non-toxic to humans and pets

Companion Plants:

• Pansies
• Violas
• Chrysanthemums
• Cabbage (ornamental varieties)
• Silver Dust (Dusty Miller)