Description
Crane Red, also known as Ornamental Kale or Flowering Kale, is a visually striking variety of Brassica oleracea a striking annual plant grown for its vibrant foliage. It features plum-coloured centres surrounded by dark green-to-purple outer leaves that intensify in colour with cooler temperatures. It is primarily used for decorative purposes in gardens and floral arrangements.
Offer: 1 young plant
Plant Info:
| Flower Type: | Focal / Filler |
| Life Cycle: | Perennial (Hardy) |
| Botanical Name: | Brassica oleracea |
| Common Name: | Ornamental Kale / Flowering Kale |
| Variety: | Crane |
| Colour: | Red |
| Height: | 700mm – 9000mm when fully grown |
| Spacing: | 150mm between plants needs airflow around the plant. |
| Light: | Full sun |
| Zone: | Grows everywhere in South Africa (annual in zones 4-10) |
| Kids & Pets: | Non-toxic – Kale Crane Red (Brassica oleracea var. acephala) is generally considered non-toxic. While it is primarily grown for ornamental purposes and is not intended for consumption, it does not contain any harmful compounds that would make it toxic to humans or pets. However, it is important to note that the leaves are not edible and should not be consumed.
If ingested in large quantities, any plant from the Brassica family might cause mild digestive upset, but there is no specific toxicity concerns associated with Kale Crane Red itself |
| Climate: | Prefers cooler temps and needs some shading in hot climates. Perfect temps are 20-30 degrees centigrade. |
| Water: | Requires regular water |
| Outdoor & Pots: | Can grow well in beds and pots in the garden outside |
Growing Info:
| Soil: | Prefers well-draining, fertile soil that is somewhat adaptable to various soil types. |
| Plant Instructions: | Dig a hole twice the size of the root ball. Fill a little bit of the loose dirt back and add some organic compost or well-rotted manure to improve the soil and add fertility and drainage. Then place your plant into the hole and tuck your plant in so the base of the stem is even with the top of the hole. Now fill in the rest of the soil around the roots, give the soft ground around the base of your new plant friend a few solid pats to compress the soil onto the roots, and a long, gentle drink of water to encourage root growth. |
| Watering: | Water regularly, especially during dry periods. Avoid overwatering, which can lead to root rot. Rather water deep and less regularly. |
| Where to Plant: | Find a place that gets a decent amount of sun (6-8 hrs), with well-draining soil and some afternoon shade if in the very warm parts of South Africa. Provide shelter from strong winds, which can damage their tall flower stalks. |
| When to Plant: | Plant outside at the beginning of spring (September-October). Avoid the heat of the day when planting — plant in the early morning, late afternoon, or by the light of the moon. |
| Pinch: | No |
| Fertilizing: | Feed with a balanced liquid fertilizer every 4-6 weeks during the growing season. |
| Deadheading: | Remove spent flowers to encourage continuous blooming. |
| When to Expect: Blooms: | It should be ready to harvest in around 90 days onwards if planted in September. |
| Division: | No |
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