Types of kale: perennial kale varieties, Cavolo Nero & more

Edward

With a passion for growing installed at an early age, I have always been happiest outdoors in nature. After training as a professional gardener and horticultural therapist, I currently run horticultural therapy and community kitchen gardens in the UK, helping others access the many physical and mental health benefits of growing vegetables, fruit and plants.

Favourite fruit: apples and pears
Favourite vegetable: asparagus

With so many different types of kale to choose from, you may be wondering which type to grow. Discover the different kale varieties and those best for your garden.

Kale plants with green foliage — As with other vegetables, there is a wide array of kale varieties to choose from [Photo: Dagmar Breu/ Shutterstock.com]

With its high nutritional value and superfood status, the brassica kale (Brassica oleracea Acephala Group) is now a key winter vegetable. While kale is readily available in shops, it is also easy to plant kale at home, whether in the ground or in a pot. Read on to learn about the different types of kale available to grow, so you can decide which one is right for you.

How many different types of kale are there?

Although kale is predominantly known for its light or dark green foliage, you can also grow varieties that produce red leaves or even pink-leaved ornamental kales. There are around 150 known kale varieties. However, many older varieties are in decline due to a lack of popularity but are being replaced as breeders produce new cultivars. Most varieties of kale grown today are classed as biennials, as they produce leaves in the first year and flowers in the second. However, there are also some heritage perennial kale varieties that will come back year after year.

The foliage of kale varieties can differ vastly between broad and deeply curled, similar to the Savoy cabbage (Brassica oleracea Capitata Group) to the long and narrow leaves of Cavolo Nero ‘Nero di Toscana’. Kale types can also vary greatly in size, from dwarf kales that can grow in a pot to those up to 1.2m tall, which are better off in a bed.

Green and curled kale foliage — Curly kale is easily recognised by its deeply frilled foliage [Photo: Bildagentur Zoonar GmbH/ Shutterstock.com]

The best kale varieties for your garden

If you are wondering which kale variety to grow, here are some of the most commonly grown types as well as an unusual perennial kale:

‘Black magic’: a smaller Cavolo Nero kale variety that grows around 60cm tall. British bred to be more suitable for our climate. Long narrow foliage that is dark green–grey and textured. Rich flavour and cold hardy. Harvest October to April. RHS Award of Garden Merit.
‘Cottagers’: also known as ‘Taunton Deane’. A heritage perennial kale variety. Grows to around 2m tall over time. Large green leaves with a pink-purple stem and a nutty taste. Very hardy. Lives for around 5 years. Harvest October to April.
‘Emerald ice’: striking green foliage with a contrasting white centre. Impressive flavour. Grows around 90cm high. Winter hardy. Harvest October to April.

The foliage of emerald ice — Kale ‘Emerald ice’ is a striking cultivar with a contrasting white centre [Photo: Peter Turner Photography/ Shutterstock.com]

‘Midnight sun’: attractive variety with green-red leaves and prominent pink veins. Grows to a height of 90cm. Suitable for picking as young leaves. Winter hardy. Harvest from October to March.
‘Nero di Toscana’: popular Cavolo Nero variety, also known as Tuscan kale. Grows up to 1.2m tall. Long and narrow green leaves with an impressive flavour. Winter hardy. Harvest from October to March.
‘Oldenbor’ F1: green curly kale variety. Grows 1m tall. Superb flavour and a long cropping period. Improved winter hardiness. Harvest September to March.

The foliage of Tuscan kale — ‘Nero di Toscana’ kale produces long narrow dark green leaves [Photo: Peter Turner Photography/ Shutterstock.com]

‘Redbor’: deep red-purple curly kale. Grows to 90cm tall. Strikingly coloured and large frilly foliage. Good disease resistance. Excellent flavour. Winter hardy. Harvest November to April. RHS Award of Garden Merit.
‘Red Russian’: green leaves with a red stem. Grows to around 60cm high. Tender leaves with a sweet flavour that are often picked young. Suitable for growing in pots. Hardy. Harvest November to March.
‘Siberian’: slightly curled blue-green foliage. Grows to 60cm tall. Tender leaves with a mild flavour. Excellent hardiness. Harvest November to March.
‘Starbor’ F1: dwarf curly kale. Grows to around 40cm high. Blue-green heavily curled foliage with a great flavour. Suitable for growing in pots or containers. Harvest October to March. RHS Award of Garden Merit.