Plant DetailShow Menu

Siberian Kale Brassica napus (Pabularia Group)

Other Common Name(s):

Other plants called Siberian Kale:

Phonetic Spelling
BRAS-sick-ah NAY-pus pa-byou-LAH-ree-ah Group
Description

Siberian kale is a cool-weather annual or biennial in the mustard family (Brassicaceae) and is a result of breeding field mustard and wild cabbage. The genus name is Latin for cabbage.

Kale can grow 1-3 feet tall and wide and do best in full sun and any amended well-drained moist garden soil. They can be directly sown in the garden or purchased as seedlings and planted in either spring or fall. In the south, they can be grown all winter long as they tolerate frost and light freezes. Provide adequate nitrogen for best results. Get a soil test before planting and fertilize according to the results.

These kales are more tender than other varieties with a milder flavor. They are also more resistant to insects and diseases and more winter hardy.  The leaves can be eaten raw or cooked.  In spring the plant will bolt and send up a flower stalk with yellow flowers that early bees are attracted to. 

Use this plant in the fall, winter and spring edible garden. 

Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems:  Diseases affecting this plant include club root, leaf spot, and black rot.  Insect problems include flea beetles, aphids, whitefly, root maggots and fungus gnats.  See pests of crucifers to the left.

See this plant in the following landscape:
Vegetable Garden with Pollinator Plants in Mt. Pleasant
Cultivars / Varieties:
  • ‘Premier’
    Compact plant with medium green 12 inch leaves
  • ‘Red Ursa’
    Cross of Red Russian and Siberian kale. Curly leaves and red stems
  • ‘Siberian Kale’
    Some what curly green leaves. 2.5 feet tall
  • 'White Russian’
    2 feet tall. Slighly curled green leaves with white veins
‘Premier’, ‘Red Ursa’, ‘Siberian Kale’, 'White Russian’
Tags:
#edible plant#showy leaves#winter interest#vegetable garden#frost tolerant#vegetable#winter hardy#winter garden#sweet taste#winter annual#full sun#freeze tolerant
 
Cultivars / Varieties:
  • ‘Premier’
    Compact plant with medium green 12 inch leaves
  • ‘Red Ursa’
    Cross of Red Russian and Siberian kale. Curly leaves and red stems
  • ‘Siberian Kale’
    Some what curly green leaves. 2.5 feet tall
  • 'White Russian’
    2 feet tall. Slighly curled green leaves with white veins
‘Premier’, ‘Red Ursa’, ‘Siberian Kale’, 'White Russian’
Tags:
#edible plant#showy leaves#winter interest#vegetable garden#frost tolerant#vegetable#winter hardy#winter garden#sweet taste#winter annual#full sun#freeze tolerant
  • Attributes:
    Genus:
    Brassica
    Species:
    napus
    Family:
    Brassicaceae
    Life Cycle:
    Annual
    Biennial
    Recommended Propagation Strategy:
    Seed
    Country Or Region Of Origin:
    Northern Asia and northern Europe
    Wildlife Value:
    Bees frequent this plant.
    Play Value:
    Attracts Pollinators
    Easy to Grow
    Edibility:
    The leaves of this plant are edible.
    Dimensions:
    Height: 1 ft. 0 in. - 3 ft. 0 in.
    Width: 1 ft. 0 in. - 3 ft. 0 in.
  • Whole Plant Traits:
    Plant Type:
    Annual
    Vegetable
    Habit/Form:
    Clumping
    Erect
    Mounding
    Growth Rate:
    Medium
    Maintenance:
    Medium
    Texture:
    Medium
  • Cultural Conditions:
    Light:
    Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
    Soil Texture:
    Loam (Silt)
    Soil pH:
    Acid (<6.0)
    Neutral (6.0-8.0)
    Soil Drainage:
    Good Drainage
    Moist
    Available Space To Plant:
    12 inches-3 feet
    NC Region:
    Coastal
    Mountains
    Piedmont
  • Fruit:
    Fruit Type:
    Siliqua
    Fruit Description:
    The seeds develop in sickle shaped pods. The fruit dries and splits when ripe.
  • Flowers:
    Flower Color:
    Gold/Yellow
    Flower Bloom Time:
    Spring
    Summer
    Flower Shape:
    Cross
    Flower Petals:
    4-5 petals/rays
    Flower Size:
    < 1 inch
    Flower Description:
    Not grown for it flowers. Yellow 4-petaled flowers will appear in spring in clusters
  • Leaves:
    Leaf Color:
    Blue
    Green
    Leaf Feel:
    Leathery
    Smooth
    Leaf Value To Gardener:
    Edible
    Showy
    Leaf Type:
    Simple
    Leaf Arrangement:
    Alternate
    Leaf Shape:
    Auriculate
    Cuneate
    Leaf Margin:
    Lobed
    Hairs Present:
    No
    Leaf Length:
    > 6 inches
    Leaf Width:
    3-6 inches
    Leaf Description:
    Attractive blue/green, reddish or green foliage is flat to somewhat curled with lobed margins. Leaves vary in size but can get a foot or more long.
  • Stem:
    Stem Color:
    Green
    Stem Is Aromatic:
    No
    Stem Description:
    Thick green cental stem
  • Landscape:
    Landscape Location:
    Container
    Landscape Theme:
    Edible Garden
    Pollinator Garden
    Winter Garden
    Design Feature:
    Border
    Mass Planting
    Attracts:
    Bees