Translate this page:
Summary
Physical Characteristics
Brassica oleracea costata is a BIENNIAL growing to 1.5 m (5ft).
See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 8 and is not frost tender. It is in leaf all year, in flower from May to August, and the seeds ripen from July to September. The species is hermaphrodite (has both male and female organs) and is pollinated by Bees. The plant is self-fertile.
Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils, prefers well-drained soil and can grow in heavy clay soil. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils. It can grow in semi-shade (light woodland) or no shade. It prefers moist soil. The plant can tolerate maritime exposure.
UK Hardiness Map
US Hardiness Map
Synonyms
Plant Habitats
Cultivated Beds;
Edible Uses
Edible Parts: Leaves
Edible Uses:
Leaves - raw or cooked[2, 27, 33, 200]. Tender[264]. Most commonly eaten as a vegetable, though the younger and more tender leaves can be added to salads. Some people find the raw leaves hard to digest[K]. The leaves can be available all through the winter[264]. The leaf ribs are cooked like seakale (Crambe maritima.)[27, 33].
References More on Edible Uses
Medicinal Uses
Plants For A Future can not take any responsibility for any adverse effects from the use of plants. Always seek advice from a professional before using a plant medicinally.
None known
References More on Medicinal Uses
The Bookshop: Edible Plant Books
Our Latest books on Perennial Plants For Food Forests and Permaculture Gardens in paperback or digital formats.
Edible Tropical Plants
Food Forest Plants for Hotter Conditions: 250+ Plants For Tropical Food Forests & Permaculture Gardens.
More
Edible Temperate Plants
Plants for Your Food Forest: 500 Plants for Temperate Food Forests & Permaculture Gardens.
More
More Books
PFAF have eight books available in paperback and digital formats. Browse the shop for more information.
Shop Now
Other Uses
References More on Other Uses
Cultivation details
Succeeds in full sun in a well-drained fertile preferably alkaline soil[16, 200]. Prefers a heavy soil[16]. Succeeds in any reasonable soil, but is best when grown in a rich soil[33]. Couve tronchuda is a non-hearting form of cabbage with large green leaves and prominent white midribs that are available to eat mainly in the autumn[200]. The plant is transitional between the hearting cabbages and the kales[200]. Occasionally cultivated for its edible leaves and leaf stem, it is taller growing than the cabbages but less hardy, tolerating temperatures down to between -5 and -10°c[200]. One report suggests that it might be resistant to club root[33]. A good bee plant[108].
References Carbon Farming Information and Carbon Sequestration Information
Temperature Converter
Type a value in the Celsius field to convert the value to Fahrenheit:
Fahrenheit:
The PFAF Bookshop
Plants For A Future have a number of books available in paperback and digital form. Book titles include Edible Plants, Edible Perennials, Edible Trees,Edible Shrubs, Woodland Gardening, and Temperate Food Forest Plants. Our new book is Food Forest Plants For Hotter Conditions (Tropical and Sub-Tropical).
Shop Now
Plant Propagation
Seed - sow in a seedbed outdoors in April. Plant out as space permits in summer. Do not let the seedlings get overcrowded or they will soon become leggy and will not make such good plants. If your seedlings do get leggy, it is possible to plant them rather deeper into the soil - the buried stems will soon form roots and the plant will be better supported.
Other Names
If available other names are mentioned here
Native Range
(Brassica oleracea) EUROPE: United Kingdom (U.K.) (coasts), Germany, Schleswig-Holstein, Spain (n. coast), France (w. & n. coasts).
Weed Potential
Right plant wrong place. We are currently updating this section.
Please note that a plant may be invasive in one area but may not in your area so it’s worth checking.
Conservation Status
IUCN Red List of Threatened Plants Status :
| Related Plants
|
| Latin Name | Common Name | Habit | Height | Hardiness | Growth | Soil | Shade | Moisture | Edible | Medicinal | Other |
| Alliaria petiolata | Garlic Mustard | Biennial | 1.0 |
5-8
| | LMH | FS | MWe | 3 | 2 | 1 |
| Arabidopsis thaliana | Thale Cress, Mouseear cress | Annual/Biennial | 0.5 |
0-0
| | LMH | SN | DM | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Arabis alpina | Alpine Rock Cress, Alpine rockcress | Perennial | 0.2 |
4-8
| | LM | SN | M | 2 | 0 | |
| Arabis caucasica | Rock Cress, Wall Rockcress | Perennial | 0.2 |
4-9
| M | LMH | SN | DM | 2 | 0 | 3 |
| Arabis hirsuta | Hairy rockcress, Mountain rockcress, Creamflower rockcress | Biennial/Perennial | 0.6 |
4-8
| | LMH | SN | DM | 1 | 0 | |
| Arabis lyrata | Rock Cress, Kamchatka rockcress, Lyrate rockcress | Biennial/Perennial | 0.3 |
4-8
| | LMH | SN | DM | 1 | 0 | |
| Arabis pendula | | Biennial | 0.9 |
-
| | LMH | FSN | M | 1 | 0 | |
| Arabis sagittata | | Biennial/Perennial | 0.6 |
-
| | LMH | SN | DM | 1 | 0 | |
| Arabis serrata | | Perennial | 0.3 |
6-9
| | LMH | SN | M | 1 | 0 | |
| Armoracia rusticana | Horseradish, Red Cole | Perennial | 0.7 |
4-9
| F | LMH | SN | M | 3 | 3 | 2 |
| Aubrieta deltoidea | Aubretia, Lilacbush, False Rockcress | Perennial | 0.2 |
4-9
| M | LM | SN | DM | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| Aurinia saxatilis | Golden Alyssum, Basket of gold | Perennial | 0.3 |
4-10
| M | LMH | N | DM | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| Barbarea australis | | Biennial/Perennial | 0.5 |
-
| | LMH | SN | M | 2 | 1 | |
| Barbarea orthoceras | American Yellowrocket | Perennial | 0.5 |
0-0
| | LMH | SN | M | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Barbarea stricta | Small-flowered winter-cress | Biennial | 0.8 |
3-10
| F | LMH | N | MWe | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Barbarea verna | Land Cress, Early yellowrocket | Biennial | 0.3 |
5-9
| | LMH | FSN | M | 3 | 0 | |
| Barbarea vulgaris | Yellow Rocket, Garden yellowrocket | Perennial | 0.4 |
5-9
| | LMH | SN | M | 3 | 1 | 0 |
| Brassica balearica | | Perennial | 0.0 |
-
| | LMH | N | M | 1 | 0 | |
| Brassica carinata | Abyssinian Cabbage | Annual | 1.0 |
9-12
| F | LMH | SN | M | 4 | 2 | 3 |
| Brassica cretica | Mustard | Perennial | 1.0 |
0-0
| | LMH | N | M | 2 | 0 | |
| Brassica elongata | Elongated mustard | Biennial/Perennial | 0.9 |
0-0
| | LMH | SN | M | 2 | 0 | 2 |
| Brassica juncea | Brown Mustard | Annual | 0.8 |
6-9
| | LMH | SN | M | 4 | 2 | 2 |
| Brassica juncea crispifolia | Curled Mustard | Annual | 0.3 |
6-9
| F | LMH | SN | M | 4 | 2 | 2 |
| Brassica juncea foliosa | Leaf Mustard | Annual | 0.3 |
6-9
| F | LMH | SN | M | 4 | 2 | 2 |
| Brassica juncea integrifolia crispifolia | Curled Mustard | Annual | 0.3 |
6-10
| F | LMH | SN | M | 4 | 2 | 2 |
| Brassica juncea integrifolia rugosa | Head Mustard | Annual | 0.6 |
6-10
| F | LMH | SN | M | 4 | 2 | 2 |
| Brassica juncea integrifolia strumata | Large Petiole Mustard | Annual | 0.8 |
6-10
| F | LMH | SN | M | 4 | 2 | 2 |
| Brassica juncea integrifolia subintegrifolia | Leaf Mustard | Annual | 0.3 |
6-10
| F | LMH | SN | M | 4 | 2 | 2 |
| Brassica juncea multiceps | Green In The Snow | Annual | 0.4 |
6-9
| F | LMH | SN | M | 4 | 2 | 2 |
| Brassica juncea napiformis | Root Mustard | Annual | 0.8 |
6-9
| | LMH | SN | M | 4 | 2 | 2 |
|
|
Growth: S = slow M = medium F = fast. Soil: L = light (sandy) M = medium H = heavy (clay). pH: A = acid N = neutral B = basic (alkaline). Shade: F = full shade S = semi-shade N = no shade. Moisture: D = dry M = Moist We = wet Wa = water.
Expert comment
Author
DC.
Botanical References
200
Links / References
For a list of references used on this page please go here
Readers comment
© 2010, Plants For A Future. Plants For A Future is a charitable company limited by guarantee, registered in England and Wales. Charity No. 1057719, Company No. 3204567.