Ornamental Kale
For sale in Lawrenceville, GA
- Moderate
- Full Sun to Part Shade
- Cold hardy to USDA Zone 8a (cool-season annual; tolerates hard freezes)
- Pet safe
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About Ornamental Kale
Ornamental Kale is grown not for flowers but for its dramatic rosette of ruffled, richly colored foliage in shades of purple, pink, and cream that intensifies as temperatures drop through fall and winter, making it one of the most reliable sources of cool-season color for Georgia containers and beds when most other plants have gone dormant. It stays compact at under a foot tall and 1-1.5 feet wide, and unlike Pansy, its main appeal is architectural foliage color rather than flowers, giving it a bold, structural presence in fall and winter container arrangements alongside mums and pansies. It tolerates hard freezes and even light snow without significant damage, and its color often becomes more vivid after exposure to cold rather than fading, the opposite of how most plants respond to frost. Ornamental Kale prefers full sun to part shade and consistent moisture, declining once Georgia's spring heat arrives, at which point it typically bolts and is removed in favor of warm-season plantings. It is technically edible, though bred for ornamental appearance rather than culinary quality.
🚚 Delivery available to Lawrenceville and all of Gwinnett County — see our service area for exact timing.
Plant Specifications
| Mature Height | 0.75-1 ft |
|---|---|
| Mature Width | 1-1.5 ft |
| Sun Requirements | Full Sun to Part Shade |
| Water Needs | Moderate — regular water, avoid letting soil fully dry |
| Bloom Season | N/A (grown for colorful fall/winter foliage rosette) |
| Growth Rate | Moderate |
| USDA Hardiness Zone | 8a (cool-season annual; tolerates hard freezes) |
| Deer Resistant | No |
| Pet Safe | Yes |
| Native to Georgia | No |
Planting Instructions & Regional Tips
Plant Ornamental Kale in early fall, typically September through October in the Lawrenceville area, for the best foliage color development through winter. Choose full sun to part shade in well-drained soil. Water regularly to keep soil consistently moist, and expect the foliage color to intensify after the first frosts of the season rather than fade. A consistent watering schedule through the first growing season helps the root system establish before the plant is asked to handle Georgia's summer heat on its own.
Fast Facts
- Grown for dramatic ruffled foliage color, not flowers
- Color intensifies with cold rather than fading
- Mature size: under 1 ft tall, 1-1.5 ft wide
- Tolerates hard freezes and light snow
- Pet safe, technically edible though bred for appearance
- Declines once Georgia spring heat arrives
Pairs Well With
Ornamental Kale FAQs
Does cold weather hurt ornamental kale?
No, Ornamental Kale actually develops more vivid purple, pink, and cream foliage color in response to cold temperatures and frost, making it one of the few plants that improves in appearance through a Georgia winter rather than declining. It reliably tolerates hard freezes and even light snow with minimal damage.
Do deer eat Ornamental Kale?
Yes, Ornamental Kale is not considered deer resistant and can be browsed by deer, especially newly planted specimens. In Gwinnett County areas with heavy deer pressure, fencing or repellent application is worth considering until the plant is well established.