Bedding Plant I.D.

Provided Information:

1. Photo:
2. Date: March
3. Location: Portland, Oregon
4. Plant type: herbaceous
5. Environment: flower bed
6. Exposure: appears to have good sun exposure
7. Scent: n/a
8. Other:

Identification:

1. Name: Brassica oleracea Flamingo Plumes (Ornamental kale, flowering kale, Flamingo plumes kale)
2. Family: Cruciferae (Brassicaceae)
3. Origin: Europe
4. Random facts: The kale plant in the photo has 'bolted,' meaning it has shot up in height and entered the flowering stage. Typically this is a less desirable state in the landscape, as it results in a leggy, faded, and less robust plant. While the plant in the photo is pretty in its own way, under better conditions it would be more compact, full, and with much more vibrant foliage colors. Bolting often occurs when they are planted too early in the fall, and the warm weather stimulated the plant to produce a flower stalk. Note: once flowering is completed, the plant will die. This biennial ornamental is usually treated as an annual and serves as a colorful winter bedding plant.