Chinese Kale

Brassica oleracea

Native to:
France, Spain

📍 View on iNaturalist →

Taxonomy

Division:
Magnoliophyta | - Flowering plants
Family:
Brassicaceae
Genus:
Brassica
Species:
Brassica oleracea
USDA Symbol:
BRAL8

Growth Characteristics

Height:
200 cm
Drought Tolerance:
Low
Bloom Months:
apr,may,jun
Bloom Colors:
yellow, white
Food Forest:
Contains edible parts

Host Plant for Caterpillars

Alfalfa Looper (Autographa californica), Army cutworm (Euxoa auxiliaris), Armyworm moth (Pseudaletia unipuncta), beet armyworm (Spodoptera exigua), Beet Webworm (Loxostege sticticalis), Bertha armyworm (Mamestra configurata), bicolored sallow (Sunira bicolorago), Black cutworm (Agrotis ipsilon), Bronzed Cutworm (Nephelodes minians), cabbage budworm moth (Hellula phidilealis), Cabbage looper (Trichoplusia ni), cabbage webworm (Hellula rogatalis), Celery leaftier (Udea rubigalis), Celery Looper (Anagrapha falcifera), clandestine dart (Spaelotis clandestina), clover cutworm (Agrotis gladiaria), Common Looper Moth (Autographa precationis), corn earworm (Helicoverpa zea), cross-striped cabbageworm (Evergestis rimosalis), darksided cutworm (Euxoa messoria), Diamondback moth (Plutella xylostella), dingy cutworm (Feltia jaculifera), Euxoa infausta, Euxoa intrita, Euxoa ochrogaster, Euxoa scandens, Euxoa tessellata, Fall armyworm (Spodoptera frugiperda), Flame Carpet (Xanthorhoe designata), flax tortrix (Cnephasia asseclana), Giant leopard moth (Hypercompe scribonia), glassy cutworm (Apamea devastator), Gothic dart (Feltia subgothica), Greater Red Dart (Abagrotis alternata), kidney-spotted minor (Lacinipolia renigera), Large Yellow Underwing (Noctua pronuba), Lobed Looper Moth (Megalographa biloba), Mamestra curialis, nutmeg (Discestra trifolii), Old Man Dart (Agrotis vetusta), Palmetto Borer Moth (Litoprosopus futilis), Pyroderces badia, rascal dart moth (Agrotis malefida), Salt Marsh Moth (Estigmene acrea), Setaceous Hebrew Character (Xestia c-nigrum), Southern armyworm (Spodoptera eridania), Soybean Looper (Pseudoplusia includens), speckled cutworm (Lacanobia subjuncta), spotted eustixia moth (Eustixia pupula), stalk borer moth (Papaipema nebris), Striped Garden Caterpillar Moth (Trichordestra legitima), Striped rice borer (Chilo suppressalis), Sutor moth (Condica sutor), Sweetpotato Armyworm (Spodoptera dolichos), underworld dart (Agrotis subterranea), Variegated cutworm (Peridroma saucia), Virginia Tiger Moth (Spilosoma virginica), White-lined sphinx moth (Hyles lineata), Xanthorhoe iduata, Yellow-headed Cutworm (Apamea amputatrix), Yellow-striped armyworm (Spodoptera ornithogalli), zebra caterpillar moth (Melanchra picta), Checkered White (Pontia protodice), Small White (Pieris rapae)

Reported Fauna Sightings

Moths:cross-striped cabbageworm (Evergestis rimosalis) Butterflies:Small White (Pieris rapae)

Garden & Ecology Notes

Wildlife Value:
bees, butterflies
Salt Tolerant:
Yes

Propagation & Germination

Stratification:
None required
Germination Time:
5–10 days
Notes:
Germinates readily at soil temperatures of 7-30°C. Light not required for germination.

The above propagation data sourced from Claude AI

ORGHPS Germination Guide: Sow @ 20C. Germinates within 3 months.

Source: Ontario Rock Garden & Hardy Plant Society