Jewelled ornament

Adding rich colour and texture to the winter garden, ornamental varieties of kale are hardy enough to stand up to the trials of the season. A member of the Brassica oleracea or cabbage family, varieties range in colour from whites and pinks to reds and purples. Their colourful foliage is far more heavily ruffled than in edible varieties. When gradually acclimatised to lower temperatures, they can withstand conditions as low as -15°C. The onset of colder weather aids in the development of the colourful leaf pigmentation, which is augmented by frosts.