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Plants that fill a similar niche:
Brassica oleracea (Acephala Group) Edible Kale
Brassica oleracea (Gemmifera Group) Brassica oleracea
Eruca vesicaria Eruca vesicaria
Brassica oleracea (Capitata Group) has some common insect problems:
Slugs and Snails Found on Flowers and Foliage
Caterpillars Found on Flowers and Foliage
Cabbage Looper on Ornamentals
Brassica oleracea (Capitata Group) has some common disease problems:
Southern Bacterial Wilt on Herbaceous Ornamental Plants

Brassica oleracea (Capitata Group)

Common Name(s):

Phonetic Spelling
BRAS-ih-ka ol-ur-RAY-see-uh
Description

The Capitata Group of Brassica oleracea is cabbages. The genus name Brassica is Latin for cabbage.  This group has hearty leaf plants and grows best at cooler temperatures, typically around 60 degrees.  Temperatures higher than 75 degrees can induce bolting, when your plants grow too quickly, then stop flowering and set seeds.  The best growing conditions include full sun, shade can slow the growing process.

There are three types of cabbages.  Common cabbage has dark green leaves.  Dutch cabbage has a larger heart and leaves and a milder flavor and is pale green or even white. Red cabbage has purplish colored leaves.  They are in flower from May to August and ready for harvest from July to September.

A head of cabbage can weigh between 1 to 9 lbs.

A versatile plant, it can be pickled, fermented, steamed, stewed, braised, sauteed, or eaten raw.  The shredded leaves can be used in salads.  Dutch cabbage is the more tender and sweeter variety, most suitable for eating raw.  Red cabbage is used for pickling.

They have a large terminal bud that is edible.  Savoy cabbage has puckered leaves that can be shredded to make coleslaw.  

Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems:  Slugs can be a problem as well as cabbage worms, cabbage loopers, caterpillars, cutworms, slugs, and nematodes.  and cabbage aphids.  Leaf spot, blackleg, black rot, and yellows can be an issue.  Some may be affected by root maggots.

The Clemson Cooperative Extension Home and Garden Information Center has a factsheet on common Cole crop diseases and other plant problems.

VIDEO Created by Elisabeth Meyer for "Edibles, Bulbs, and Houseplants" a plant identification course offered in partnership with Longwood Gardens.   

More information on Brassica oleracea.

Profile Video:
See this plant in the following landscape:
Vegetable Garden- Raised Beds
Cultivars / Varieties:
  • 'Alcosa'
    Savoy cabbage with crinkled leaves and a sweet tender heart.
  • 'Blue Dynasty'
    Purple-blue leafed hybrid with improved disease resistance.
  • 'Blue Vantage'
    Purple-Blue leafed, hybrid with better disease resistance.
  • 'Caraflex'
    Good choice for coleslaw, stir fry and salads.
  • 'Charleston Wakefield'
    Heirloom variety with a conical shaped head.
  • 'Cheers'
    Blue-green hybrid with excellent disease resistance.
  • 'Dynamo'
    Early maturity green variety.
  • 'Early Jersey Wakefield'
    Heirloom variety. Conical shaped head.
  • 'Famosa'
    Savoy cabbage with crinkled leaves and a sweet tender heart.
  • 'Farao'
    An early maturing green variety.
  • 'Golden Acre'
    Early maturing green variety.
  • 'Red Acre'
    Red Cabbage.
  • 'Red Express'
    Red Cabbage.
  • 'Rubyball'
    Purple colored leaves. Red cabbage.
  • 'Ruby Perfeection'
    Red Cabbage.
  • 'Samantha'
    Sweet and savory Savoy cabbage.
  • 'Savory Ace'
    Savoy cabbage with crinkled leaves and a sweet tender heart.
'Alcosa', 'Blue Dynasty', 'Blue Vantage', 'Caraflex', 'Charleston Wakefield', 'Cheers', 'Dynamo', 'Early Jersey Wakefield', 'Famosa', 'Farao', 'Golden Acre', 'Red Acre', 'Red Express', 'Rubyball', 'Ruby Perfeection', 'Samantha', 'Savory Ace'
Tags:
#medicinal#frost tolerant#edible leaves#cool season vegetable#clay soils tolerant#problem for horses#coastal plant#annual
 
Cabbage
Cabbage Allispossible.org.uk CC BY 2.0
Cabbage
Cabbage DenesFeri CC BY-SA 4.0
Brassica Oleracea
Brassica Oleracea Forest and Kim Starr CC BY-SA 3.0
Brassica oleracea Savoy
Savoy Cabbage Evelyn Gunn CC BY-SA 3.0
Brassica oleracea
Red Cabbage Forest and Kim Starr CC BY-SA 3.0
Brassica oleracea
Brassica oleracea 'Capitata' - 'Rubyball' leaves Kenpei CC BY-SA 3.0
Cultivars / Varieties:
  • 'Alcosa'
    Savoy cabbage with crinkled leaves and a sweet tender heart.
  • 'Blue Dynasty'
    Purple-blue leafed hybrid with improved disease resistance.
  • 'Blue Vantage'
    Purple-Blue leafed, hybrid with better disease resistance.
  • 'Caraflex'
    Good choice for coleslaw, stir fry and salads.
  • 'Charleston Wakefield'
    Heirloom variety with a conical shaped head.
  • 'Cheers'
    Blue-green hybrid with excellent disease resistance.
  • 'Dynamo'
    Early maturity green variety.
  • 'Early Jersey Wakefield'
    Heirloom variety. Conical shaped head.
  • 'Famosa'
    Savoy cabbage with crinkled leaves and a sweet tender heart.
  • 'Farao'
    An early maturing green variety.
  • 'Golden Acre'
    Early maturing green variety.
  • 'Red Acre'
    Red Cabbage.
  • 'Red Express'
    Red Cabbage.
  • 'Rubyball'
    Purple colored leaves. Red cabbage.
  • 'Ruby Perfeection'
    Red Cabbage.
  • 'Samantha'
    Sweet and savory Savoy cabbage.
  • 'Savory Ace'
    Savoy cabbage with crinkled leaves and a sweet tender heart.
'Alcosa', 'Blue Dynasty', 'Blue Vantage', 'Caraflex', 'Charleston Wakefield', 'Cheers', 'Dynamo', 'Early Jersey Wakefield', 'Famosa', 'Farao', 'Golden Acre', 'Red Acre', 'Red Express', 'Rubyball', 'Ruby Perfeection', 'Samantha', 'Savory Ace'
Tags:
#medicinal#frost tolerant#edible leaves#cool season vegetable#clay soils tolerant#problem for horses#coastal plant#annual
  • Attributes:
    Genus:
    Brassica
    Species:
    oleracea
    Family:
    Brassicaceae
    Life Cycle:
    Annual
    Recommended Propagation Strategy:
    Seed
    Country Or Region Of Origin:
    Western Europe
    Wildlife Value:
    Attracts bees.
    Play Value:
    Attracts Pollinators
    Edible fruit
    Edibility:
    The leaves of these plants are edible.
    Dimensions:
    Height: 1 ft. 0 in. - 2 ft. 0 in.
    Width: 1 ft. 0 in. - 2 ft. 0 in.
  • Whole Plant Traits:
    Plant Type:
    Cool Season Vegetable
    Edible
    Vegetable
    Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
    Deciduous
    Habit/Form:
    Broad
    Clumping
    Dense
    Mounding
    Rounded
    Growth Rate:
    Medium
    Maintenance:
    Low
    Texture:
    Medium
  • Cultural Conditions:
    Light:
    Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
    Soil Texture:
    Clay
    Loam (Silt)
    Sand
    Soil pH:
    Alkaline (>8.0)
    Neutral (6.0-8.0)
    Soil Drainage:
    Good Drainage
    Moist
    Available Space To Plant:
    12 inches-3 feet
    NC Region:
    Coastal
    Mountains
    Piedmont
    USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
    1a, 1b, 2a, 2b, 3a, 3b, 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b
  • Fruit:
    Fruit Type:
    Siliqua
    Fruit Description:
    The fruit dries and splits when ripe.
  • Flowers:
    Flower Color:
    Gold/Yellow
    White
    Flower Inflorescence:
    Raceme
    Flower Shape:
    Cross
    Flower Petals:
    4-5 petals/rays
    Flower Description:
    Yellow or white
  • Leaves:
    Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
    Deciduous
    Leaf Color:
    Green
    Purple/Lavender
    White
    Leaf Feel:
    Smooth
    Leaf Value To Gardener:
    Edible
    Showy
    Leaf Type:
    Simple
    Leaf Arrangement:
    Alternate
    Leaf Shape:
    Obovate
    Leaf Margin:
    Lobed
    Hairs Present:
    No
    Leaf Length:
    > 6 inches
    Leaf Width:
    > 6 inches
    Leaf Description:
    Thick leaves (7 to 15) with wavy or lobed margins.
  • Stem:
    Stem Is Aromatic:
    No
  • Landscape:
    Landscape Location:
    Container
    Patio
    Small Space
    Walkways
    Landscape Theme:
    Edible Garden
    Pollinator Garden
    Winter Garden
    Design Feature:
    Border
    Mass Planting
    Small groups
    Problems:
    Problem for Horses