Brassica oleracea var. ramosa 'Daubenton's Panache'
Archive entry 21.08.16
12th June 2016
Cabbages are fascinating without being interesting. White and red cabbages for example are tactile and muscular, far more interesting to handle than they are to eat.
Don't even start me on sprouts (though there have been some excellent ornamental forms produced).
From time to time a cabbage appears that surprises, and in the last year or two the variegated form of the perennial kale has appeared in nurseries. It's a lovely
thing, the crumpled green leaves have irregular cream margins and it develops purple tints on the older leaves.
Much loved by Cabbage White Butterflies, the caterpillars had turned the leaves to lace by the end of the season. I have it growing in a large tub where it
makes a beautiful specimen. I haven't tried eating it. I'm sure that if you like kale it is delicious but it won't be appearing in my kitchen.
6th February 2018
Photographed during the "Beast from the East" cold spell, which it shrugged off as would be expected from a kale.