# Kale (*Brassica oleracea var. sabellica*)

Kale is a leafy green vegetable that grows in gardens. It has curly or smooth leaves and is very healthy to eat. People use kale in salads, smoothies, and soups.

- **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant)
- **Rarity:** Common
- **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low
- **Habitat:** Gardens
- **Also known as:** Curly Kale, Dinosaur Kale, Lacinato Kale, Tuscan Kale

![Kale](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Brassica_oleracea_var._sabellica_'Scarlet'_2019-04-06_02.jpg&width=800)

Photo: Agnieszka Kwiecień, Nova, CC BY-SA 4.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Brassica_oleracea_var._sabellica_'Scarlet'_2019-04-06_02.jpg)

## Appearance

The Kale has large, often deeply crinkled or ruffled leaves that can be dark green, blue-green, or even purple. Its sturdy central stem supports a rosette of these distinctively textured leaves, making it visually different from smooth-leafed greens.

## Taxonomy

- **Kingdom:** Plantae
- **Phylum:** Tracheophyta
- **Class:** Magnoliopsida
- **Order:** Brassicales
- **Family:** Brassicaceae
- **Genus:** Brassica

## Interesting facts

- Ancient Romans enjoyed eating kale long before it became a superfood today!
- Kale belongs to the same plant family as broccoli, cabbage, and Brussels sprouts!
- Rubbing kale leaves before cooking makes them softer and less bitter!
- Some kale varieties can grow taller than a small child, reaching up to three feet!

## Special abilities

- **Winter Warrior:** Kale can withstand freezing temperatures, allowing it to grow in colder climates where other vegetables would fail.
- **Soil Sponge:** Kale has a robust root system that efficiently extracts essential nutrients from the soil, making it very resilient.
- **Flavor Shield:** Kale produces bitter compounds which deter some pests, protecting its leaves from being eaten.

## Measurements & details

- **Height:** 30-90 cm
- **Spread:** 30-60 cm
- **Flower Size:** 0.5-1 cm
- **Bloom Season:** Summer
- **Edible:** Yes
- **Toxicity:** None
- **Lifecycle:** Annual
- **Pollination Method:** Insect

## Ecological connections

- **Eaten by:** Cabbage White Butterfly (*Pieris rapae*) — Larvae often feed on kale leaves, causing noticeable damage.
- **Pollinates:** European Honey Bee (*Apis mellifera*) — Bees are attracted to kale flowers, aiding in reproduction.
- **Eats:** Humans (*Homo sapiens*) — Humans widely cultivate and consume kale as a nutritious vegetable.
- **Eaten by:** Diamondback Moth (*Plutella xylostella*) — Larvae are a common pest, feeding on the leaves of kale.

## Traits

- [Biennial](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/biennial): Biennial plants complete their life cycle over two growing seasons, typically forming foliage in the first year and flowering/seeding in the second.
- [Shade Tolerant](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/shade-tolerant): Shade tolerant plants are adapted to grow and thrive in areas with low light levels, requiring less direct sunlight.
- [Cold Hardy](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/cold-hardy): Cold hardy plants are able to withstand low temperatures and freezing conditions without significant damage.
- [Edible](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/edible): Edible plants are those parts of a plant that are considered safe for human consumption.
- [Rapid Growing](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/rapid-growing): Rapid growing plants exhibit accelerated growth rates, quickly increasing in size and biomass within a short period.
- [Urban Friendly](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/urban-friendly): This habitat trait indicates species that can coexist with humans in urban and suburban environments, utilizing man-made structures and green spaces.

## Collections

- [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/plants)
- [Vegetables](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/vegetables)

## Safety

**Danger:** 1/5 · Very low

Always wash kale before eating it to remove any dirt or bugs.

## Frequently Asked Questions

### How to identify Kale?

Compare leaves, stems, flowers, pods and the part you eat. Seedlings can look like unrelated garden plants until their mature leaves come in. Vegetable Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details.

### How tall is Kale?

30-90 cm

### How wide does Kale spread?

30-60 cm

### How big are the flowers on Kale?

0.5-1 cm

### When does Kale bloom?

Summer

### Is Kale edible?

Yes

### Is Kale toxic?

None

### What is Kale's lifecycle?

Annual

## Where to spot

- [North Carolina Zoo](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/north-carolina-zoo) — North Carolina, US · Zoo

## More Plants

- [white snakeroot](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-snakeroot) (*Ageratina altissima*)
- [tree-of-heaven](https://www.snappit.app/explore/tree-of-heaven) (*Ailanthus altissima*)
- [western sword fern](https://www.snappit.app/explore/western-sword-fern) (*Polystichum munitum*)
- [common milkweed](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-milkweed) (*Asclepias syriaca*)

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Source: [Kale: Characteristics, Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/kale)