Ornamental cabbage is a must-have in autumnal planting arrangements for its vibrant color, unique form and foliage, and durable performance. Depending on your climate, cabbage survives all winter (mild regions) or performs best in fall and early spring (cold zones).
Thick, colorful foliage creates textural variety in rosettes of green, creamy white, deep pink, purple, and red. Color intensifies in cool temperatures, transitioning from green to a blend of saturated pigments as summer turns to fall.
Here are 11 dazzling varieties of ornamental cabbage and how to use them in your garden!
What is Ornamental Cabbage?
Ornamental cabbage differs from ornamental kale because it is less frilly and ruffly. It may have broad and flat leaves, sometimes edged in contrasting colors. Both belong to the same family as edible cabbages and kales, Brassicaceae, though ornamentals tend to have a more bitter flavor. It’s their showy foliage that steals the show.
Arrange ornamental cabbage with other leafy vegetables, such as bright lettuces and Swiss chard varieties with colorful stems. They make wonderful snapdragon, pansy, and viola accents.
Pair them with fall-blooming perennials like sedum, coreopsis, helenium, and asters for a diverse display of contrasts. Some selections make beautiful additions to fresh floral arrangements, resembling flowers on stems with a good vase life. They’re also a fit for a seasonal display with gourds and pumpkins.
Cabbage, with its broad, softly rounded leaves and open rosettes, lends an anchoring accent to the annual display, border, or container. Arrange them as single-color groups or in a mix (many are sold in mixes). Grow them in full-sun garden locations. They perform best in evenly moist soils with good drainage.
‘Color Up Purple’
The ‘Color Up Purple’ variety features the richest coloration of the group with a fuchsia center.
The ‘Color Up’ series has an upright growth habit with a columnar-like mounding form. ‘Color Up Purple’ features the richest coloration of the group with a fuchsia center.
‘Color Up’ stands out in the border among muted hues and complements jewel tones. Soft, rounded blue-green foliage surrounds its violet core, creating a lovely contrast.
Others in the series include ‘Color Up Pink’ in sweet bubblegum shades and ‘Color Up White’ in crisp, creamy ivory among rich greens.
‘Osaka White’
Pinkish-ivory centers give way to creamy white centers surrounded by bluish-green with white midribs.
‘Osaka’ brings semi-wavy leaves around a tightly packed, compact head. Plants are uniform and fast-growing for reliable vigor and color.
‘Osaka White’ is a clean, bright selection. Pinkish-ivory centers give way to creamy white centers surrounded by bluish-green with white midribs.
The dwarf cabbages grow to one foot wide. They make crisp front-of-the-border accents or container fillers.
‘Crane Red’
Small rosettes top long, sturdy stems like rising flowers.
The ‘Crane’ series creates mini-bouquets of cabbage that resemble blooms. Small rosettes top long, sturdy stems like rising flowers.
Plant groups or masses of ‘Crane’ in seasonal displays or as focal points in containers. Underplant with annuals like pansies, violas, snapdragons, calendula, and bright lettuces to soften the stems. The arrangement creates a floating floral effect with unique foliage.
‘Crane Red’ has deep purple-green outer foliage that holds violet centers. The cupped rosettes are also lovely in ‘Crane Pink’ with soft, rosy pink centers and ‘Crane White’ in ivory and blush. Not every cabbage makes a pretty cut “flower,” but this crown adds to fresh seasonal displays.
‘Pigeon Purple’
Its foliage resembles a multi-petaled rose and reaches one foot wide.
This round-leaf variety has a deep glow in autumn hues of velvety purple and magenta. Its foliage resembles a multi-petaled rose and reaches one foot wide.
‘Pigeon Purple’ is a rounded, compact, small-leaved selection with good frost tolerance. Green and purple leaves have dark plum and slightly wavy margins.
‘Pigeon Victoria’
Shades of deep rose develop to ballet pink with a perimeter of true green.
‘Victoria’ continues the dwarf, well-rounded habit of the ‘Pigeon’ series, this one in pink and white bicolor. Shades of deep rose develop to ballet pink with a perimeter of true green.
‘Pigeon’ shows the best color when, like most ornamental cabbages, temperatures drop below 55°F (13°C) for consistent days. Other colors in the series besides ‘Purple’ and ‘Victoria’ include ‘Red’ and ‘White.’
‘Lucir White’
The ‘Lucir White’ cabbage is quite pretty with a rim of dark green and light venation.
Like the ‘Crane’ series, ‘Lucir’ creates a lovely floral effect from its cupped foliar forms on tall stalks. ‘Lucir’ combines the coloration and growth habit of ‘Crane’ with glossy leaves. The less waxy, glaucous foliage means a shiny luster and more pigment-rich color saturation.
‘Lucir White’ is quite a pretty cabbage with a rim of dark green and light venation. The dark perimeter gives way to a broad wash of ivory “petals” (inner foliage). The heart of the rosette is creamy pink.
Since the heads rise on thick, sturdy stems, a soft underplanting rounds out the aesthetic. In addition to blooming annuals, consider other leafy greens like parsley and black-seeded Simpson lettuce for variation.
‘Osaka Red’
Mature royal purple leaves surround a magenta interior.
Another star of the ‘Osaka’ series, ‘Red’ brings early color. Mature royal purple leaves surround a magenta interior.
Leaves are slightly wavy with lightly serrated margins. Showy veins and stems highlight leaves in bright cerise and pink.
These cabbage types feature the same uniform, dense, mounded growth of the series. The compact, fast-growers are good selections for areas with short growing seasons.
‘Empire Luba’
Its “petals” are tightly packed leaves that form a compact rosette.
The ‘Empire’ series features compact, rounded foliage masquerading as rose petals. Like ‘Crane’ and ‘Lucir,’ ‘Empire’ has rosettes that top tall, sturdy stems, this time in magenta.
‘Empire Luba’ is perhaps the “rosiest” of them all. Its “petals” are tightly packed leaves that form a compact rosette. Rosy pink centers open to vanilla pink with hints of light green and lilac. Surrounding leaves are deep green.
‘Empire Luba’ is a uniform variety with an extended vase life in fresh floral arrangements. This one is eye-catching in the garden border, potted arrangement, or tabletop bouquet.
‘Songbird Red’
The ‘Songbird Red’ cultivar opens with deep purple outer leaves to reveal a rich violet-red core.
‘Songbird’ is a sweet selection that nestles in beautifully among pansies, bright lettuce greens, and Swiss chard. ‘Songbird Red’ opens with deep purple outer leaves to reveal a rich violet-red core. Pair it with deep blues and mauve for analogous shades and yellows, oranges, and white for contrast.
The ‘Songbird’ series features a high “petal” count with mirrored, symmetrical leaves. Each rounded leaf has a slight wave for added texture. Leaves grow upright for improved airflow and disease resistance. ‘Songbird’ is available in pink, white, and a mix.
‘Crystal Snow’
Leaves are glossy and less waxy than other ornamentals with early color saturation.
‘Crystal’ brings high shine and reflection to its pink, rose, red, and white foliar colors. Leaves are glossy and less waxy than other ornamentals with early color saturation.
‘Crystal Snow’ has bright ivory interiors with pale pink centers. Outer leaves are deep green with white venation. Leaves have a slightly wavy and rolled margin.
‘Crystal’ tolerates frosty and warm conditions. Its vigorous growth and early color make it a good option for extended decoration.
‘Red Acre’
It makes the list because its jewel-toned violet and magenta globes shine in containers, raised beds, and small spaces.
‘Red Acre’ is a beautiful cabbage for the vegetable garden or mixed edible arrangement, bridging the ornamental and culinary. It makes the list because its jewel-toned violet and magenta globes shine in containers, raised beds, and small spaces. Its sweet flavor is perfect for fresh salads and stir-fries.
The rounded heads are small and compact, measuring five to seven inches at maturity. ‘Red Acre’ is disease-resistant with a good shelf life in cool storage.
Embellish ‘Red Acre’ with edible-themed cool-season plantings like sage, parsley, oregano, and thyme. Pansies, violas, snapdragons, and calendula are pretty enhancements with edible flowers.
