Ornamental Kale is a bit different as a houseplant, but we like different. Often used as a winter landscape feature in big swaths of gardens, it makes a fine, eclectic houseplant if you make it happy. Lots of light, a sunny window for instance, will do the trick nicely. Shaped like the underside of an impossibly ruffly petticoat, a short, thick stem supports a multitude of impossibly ruffly, cupped, curved leaves emerging from the center and sent outwards to the edges in an endless flow. He's colored fantastically in shades of cabbage green, pine green, deep plum, vanilla cream and brilliant, pure white, not to mention a fluorescent, glowing violet. In endless combinations these colors are repeated, each plant goes its own way. Is it edible? Everyone asks. Yes, happily it is. Very packed with vitamins and the good things any Kale is, there are some precautions though. Our Kale (and any nursery grown Ornamental Kale) will have chemical residues from the cultivation process and must be washed thoroughly and maybe even grown out a bit to newer leaves before adding to a salad and using as a garnish. There may not be the rich flavor of table grown leaves, but some people like it. Never eat the root, like any Kale, and it's not for animals. On a counter or windowsill to admire, this Kale is a fun guy.
Quick Care Guide:
- Water - Medium (3): Water plant when dry. Plant does not like soil to always be moist, but doesn't like to stay dry once becomes dry. Water as soon as soil is dry.
- Light - Med/High (4): Needs more light than most, but direct light not necessary. Can handle morning and afternoon sun directly on leaves.
- Difficulty - Low (1): These plants need barely any attention to thrive. Set it and forget it.