What is an ornamental cabbage?

An ornamental cabbage is a colorful plant in the same family as edible cabbages and kale. The plants, which are a result of hybridizing, look more like flowers than heads of cabbage and feature pink or white foliage. They are often used as edging plants.

Ornamental cabbages are safe to eat, but are not as tender in consistency as cabbage grown for consumption. Ornamental cabbage is also known as flowering kale. It grows to be about 18 inches tall and wide. The plants thrive in full sun to partial shade and take 11 to 14 weeks to grow into full-sized plants.