Kale Guide

Kale Comparison Chart

Compare every kale we carry side by side. Curly kales are the hardiest and come in green, blue-green and purple; lacinato (dinosaur) kales have long, savoyed leaves with a rich, sweet flavor; and Russian and Siberian kales grow flat, tender leaves that are perfect for salads. Ornamental kales add color to bouquets and fall gardens. Tap any variety to see full details and order seed.

Download printable PDF Curly Kale Lacinato (Dinosaur) Kale Russian & Siberian Kale Ornamental Kale (Cut Flower)

50–75 days

Curly

Ruffled, hardy leaves in green, blue and purple.

55–65 days

Lacinato

Long, savoyed dinosaur leaves for cooking.

50–60 days

Russian & Siberian

Flat, tender leaves for salads and baby greens.

95 days

Ornamental

Colorful rosettes on long stems for bouquets.

Curly Kale

Variety	Days	Color	Leaf	Best For	Notes	Height
Scarlet	50	Red-purple	Heavily curled	Baby leaf, salad	Color deepens in cold	36 in.
Rainbow Candy Crush F1 Hybrid	50	Multicolor	Frilled	Garnish, salad	Edible ornamental	24 in.
Blue Curled Scotch	55	Blue-green	Finely curled	Salad & cooking	Compact; very hardy	24 in.
Prizm F1 Hybrid AAS Winner	55	Green	Ruffled	Baby leaf, salad	Compact; containers	18 in.
Redbor F1 Hybrid	55	Deep purple	Frilled	Garnish, salad	Uniform; very hardy	24 in.
Starbor F1 Hybrid	55	Blue-green	Finely curled	Cooking, bunches	One-cut harvest	18 in.
Darkibor F1 Hybrid	75	Dark green	Tightly curled	Cooking, bunches	Sweet after frost	24 in.

Lacinato (Dinosaur) Kale

Variety	Days	Color	Leaf	Best For	Notes	Height
Lacinato Heirloom	55	Dark green	Savoyed strap	Salad & cooking	Tuscan heirloom	36 in.
Lacinato Heirloom Organic	55	Dark green	Savoyed strap	Salad & cooking	Pick young	36 in.
Dazzling Blue	60	Blue-green	Savoyed strap	Salad & cooking	Purple midribs	24 in.
Black Magic	65	Near black	Deeply savoyed	Cooking, bunches	Very uniform bunches	24 in.

Russian & Siberian Kale

Variety	Days	Color	Leaf	Best For	Notes	Height
Red Russian	50	Gray-green	Flat, toothed	Baby leaf, salad	Purple stems; tender	36 in.
Red Russian Organic	50	Gray-green	Flat, toothed	Baby leaf, salad	Purple stems; tender	36 in.
White Russian	50	Green	Flat, oak-leaf	Salad & cooking	Very cold hardy	36 in.
Dwarf Siberian	55	Blue-green	Frilled	Salad & cooking	Compact; very hardy	24 in.
Premier	60	Dark green	Smooth	Cooking, bunches	Slow to bolt	24 in.

Kale is sweetest after frost

Kale grows best in cool weather and is one of the hardiest garden crops. Light frosts turn starches into sugars, so fall and winter leaves are the sweetest of the year. Pick outer leaves as you need them and leave the center growing; most plants will produce for months. Use row cover to keep cabbage worms off young plants.

Ornamental Kale (Cut Flower)

Variety	Days	Color	Leaf	Best For	Notes	Height
Condor Pure White	95	White	Ruffled rosette	Cut flowers	Long straight stems	36 in.
Condor Red	95	Red-purple	Ruffled rosette	Cut flowers	Long straight stems	36 in.
Condor White	95	White, pink	Ruffled rosette	Cut flowers	Pink-purple center	36 in.

Leaf Types

CurlyRuffled leaves; the hardiest type and best for kale chips.

SavoyedLong, bumpy lacinato leaves; tender and great for soups.

FlatSmooth or toothed Russian leaves; the most tender raw.

Days are from direct seeding to full-size leaves (subtract about 14 days for transplants) and are typical values from breeders and seed trials; results vary with growing conditions. Ornamental kale is edible but grown for its looks; harvest stems when the rosette is fully colored.