Plant Details

Brassica oleracea

Perennial broccoli, collards, kale

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Common names

71 names · 37 languages
EnglishYour language
+19 more namesShow fewer names
  • brussels sprouts[2]
  • Cabbage[1][2]
  • cabbage, broccoli, and allies[2]
  • cauliflower[2]
  • Chou Mollier[2]
  • collard greens[2]
  • collards
  • Haria[2]
  • kale[2]
  • Kohlrabi[2]
  • Marrow Stem Kale[2]
  • Niko[2]
  • Perennial broccoli
  • Puka[2]
  • Rearea[2]
  • Red Kale[2]
  • Romanesco broccoli[2]
  • wild cabbage[2]
  • wild mustard[2]
Other languages (36)
Dutch
  • boerenkool
  • kool[2]
  • Meerjarige broccoli
French
  • Chou[2]
  • Chou frisé
Arabic
  • براسيكا زيتية[2]
Arapaho
  • niisei'kooti'i[2]
Catalan
  • Bròquil, coliflor i col[2]
Cherokee
  • ᎣᏍᎨᏫ[2]
Chinese (Simplified)
Chinese (Traditional)
Czech
  • brukev zelná[2]
Danish
Estonian
Finnish
German
  • Atlantischer Wildkohl[1]
  • Gemüse-Kohl[2]
  • Gemüsekohl[2]
+1 more nameShow fewer names
  • Klippenkohl[2]
Hebrew
  • כרוב הבר[2]
  • כרוב הגינה, כרובית, ברוקולי וכ'ו[2]
Hungarian
  • vadkáposzta[2]
Italian
Japanese
  • ヤセイカンラン[2]
  • 甘藍[2]
Kweyol
Lithuanian
Luxembourgish
Norwegian
Ojibwe
Otomi
Polish
  • Kapusta warzywna[2]
Portuguese
Russian
  • Капуста огородная[2]
Sinhala
  • ගෝවා[2]
Slovak
  • kapusta obyčajná[2]
Slovenian
Sotho
Spanish
  • Brócoli[2]
  • Brócoli, Coliflor y Repollo[2]
  • Kale[2]
Swedish
Thai
  • กะหล่ำ[2]
Totonaco
Turkish
  • karnabahar[2]
  • lahana[2]
  • Lahana/Karnabahar/Brokoli[2]
Ukrainian
  • Капуста городня[2]
Sources & name notes (2)

Names recorded in our plant catalogue and botanical sources, grouped by language. Usage can vary by region.

Numbered references identify names recorded by an external source. Other names are from our plant catalogue.

[1] Catalogue of Life 2026-08-20 — Brassica oleracea L. ↗

Common names from World Plants, version 26.05, reproduced in Catalogue of Life 2026-08-20. License: CC BY.

Source records
  • Atlantischer Wildkohl (DE); Cabbage (EN) — VernacularName.tsv, line 147096; taxon N82N.
[2] Brassica oleracea — iNaturalist taxon names ↗

Community-curated iNaturalist taxonomy; common-name attestation, not an independent botanical determination.

Source records
  • cabbage, broccoli, and allies — results[1].names[1]; taxon id 54516; Brassica oleracea.
  • wild cabbage — results[1].names[2]; taxon id 54516; Brassica oleracea.
  • wild mustard — results[1].names[3]; taxon id 54516; Brassica oleracea.
  • cabbage — results[1].names[4]; taxon id 54516; Brassica oleracea.
  • Brócoli, Coliflor y Repollo — results[1].names[5]; taxon id 54516; Brassica oleracea.
  • Brócoli — results[1].names[6]; taxon id 54516; Brassica oleracea.
  • culash — results[1].names[7]; taxon id 54516; Brassica oleracea.
  • gonchi — results[1].names[8]; taxon id 54516; Brassica oleracea.
  • Couve — results[1].names[9]; taxon id 54516; Brassica oleracea.
  • Romanesco broccoli — results[1].names[10]; taxon id 54516; Brassica oleracea.
  • broccoli — results[1].names[11]; taxon id 54516; Brassica oleracea.
  • cauliflower — results[1].names[12]; taxon id 54516; Brassica oleracea.
  • collard greens — results[1].names[13]; taxon id 54516; Brassica oleracea.
  • brussels sprouts — results[1].names[14]; taxon id 54516; Brassica oleracea.
  • kale — results[1].names[15]; taxon id 54516; Brassica oleracea.
  • borecole — results[1].names[16]; taxon id 54516; Brassica oleracea.
  • Chou Mollier — results[1].names[17]; taxon id 54516; Brassica oleracea.
  • Haria — results[1].names[18]; taxon id 54516; Brassica oleracea.
  • Kohlrabi — results[1].names[19]; taxon id 54516; Brassica oleracea.
  • Marrow Stem Kale — results[1].names[20]; taxon id 54516; Brassica oleracea.
  • Niko — results[1].names[21]; taxon id 54516; Brassica oleracea.
  • Puka — results[1].names[22]; taxon id 54516; Brassica oleracea.
  • Rearea — results[1].names[23]; taxon id 54516; Brassica oleracea.
  • black cabbage — results[1].names[24]; taxon id 54516; Brassica oleracea.
  • 甘藍 — results[1].names[25]; taxon id 54516; Brassica oleracea.
  • Chou — results[1].names[26]; taxon id 54516; Brassica oleracea.
  • brukev zelná — results[1].names[27]; taxon id 54516; Brassica oleracea.
  • kool — results[1].names[28]; taxon id 54516; Brassica oleracea.
  • Have-kål — results[1].names[29]; taxon id 54516; Brassica oleracea.
  • Gemüse-Kohl — results[1].names[30]; taxon id 54516; Brassica oleracea.
  • kapsas — results[1].names[31]; taxon id 54516; Brassica oleracea.
  • Gemüsekohl — results[1].names[32]; taxon id 54516; Brassica oleracea.
  • kål — results[1].names[33]; taxon id 54516; Brassica oleracea.
  • vihanneskaali — results[1].names[34]; taxon id 54516; Brassica oleracea.
  • Капуста огородная — results[1].names[35]; taxon id 54516; Brassica oleracea.
  • Klippenkohl — results[1].names[36]; taxon id 54516; Brassica oleracea.
  • Eshoonh — results[1].names[37]; taxon id 54516; Brassica oleracea.
  • Kale — results[1].names[38]; taxon id 54516; Brassica oleracea.
  • 甘藍 — results[1].names[39]; taxon id 54516; Brassica oleracea.
  • chouponm — results[1].names[40]; taxon id 54516; Brassica oleracea.
  • kål — results[1].names[41]; taxon id 54516; Brassica oleracea.
  • 甘蓝 — results[1].names[42]; taxon id 54516; Brassica oleracea.
  • niisei'kooti'i — results[1].names[43]; taxon id 54516; Brassica oleracea.
  • ගෝවා — results[1].names[44]; taxon id 54516; Brassica oleracea.
  • Kopūstas — results[1].names[45]; taxon id 54516; Brassica oleracea.
  • Cavolo — results[1].names[46]; taxon id 54516; Brassica oleracea.
  • Kapusta warzywna — results[1].names[47]; taxon id 54516; Brassica oleracea.
  • karnabahar — results[1].names[48]; taxon id 54516; Brassica oleracea.
  • lahana — results[1].names[49]; taxon id 54516; Brassica oleracea.
  • Kabes — results[1].names[50]; taxon id 54516; Brassica oleracea.
  • Blomkoel — results[1].names[51]; taxon id 54516; Brassica oleracea.
  • براسيكا زيتية — results[1].names[52]; taxon id 54516; Brassica oleracea.
  • กะหล่ำ — results[1].names[53]; taxon id 54516; Brassica oleracea.
  • vadkáposzta — results[1].names[54]; taxon id 54516; Brassica oleracea.
  • ᎣᏍᎨᏫ — results[1].names[55]; taxon id 54516; Brassica oleracea.
  • ヤセイカンラン — results[1].names[56]; taxon id 54516; Brassica oleracea.
  • Капуста городня — results[1].names[57]; taxon id 54516; Brassica oleracea.
  • כרוב הגינה, כרובית, ברוקולי וכ'ו — results[1].names[58]; taxon id 54516; Brassica oleracea.
  • kaali — results[1].names[59]; taxon id 54516; Brassica oleracea.
  • Lahana/Karnabahar/Brokoli — results[1].names[60]; taxon id 54516; Brassica oleracea.
  • Bròquil, coliflor i col — results[1].names[61]; taxon id 54516; Brassica oleracea.
  • Red Kale — results[1].names[62]; taxon id 54516; Brassica oleracea.
  • zelje — results[1].names[63]; taxon id 54516; Brassica oleracea.
  • kapusta obyčajná — results[1].names[64]; taxon id 54516; Brassica oleracea.
  • כרוב הבר — results[1].names[65]; taxon id 54516; Brassica oleracea.

General information

Scientific name: Brassica oleracea
Accepted name (Kew): Brassica oleracea L. View name reference ↗

Accepted in the cited Kew taxonomic treatment.

Sources [1] [2]
Botanical family: Brassicaceae

Kew's family placement for the genus Brassica (WCVP v16).

Sources [1]
Also known as: Perennial broccoli, collards, kale
Images: Google Images

Plant characteristics

Layer: Herbaceous, Vegetable
Catalogue size class: Small
Height: 0.25–0.61 m

NC State landscape size range; converted from feet and inches. Size varies with site, age and management.

Sources [3]
Spread: 0.3–0.61 m

NC State landscape size range; converted from feet and inches. Size varies with site, age and management.

Sources [3]
Growth rate: Moderate
Sources [3]
Foliage: None
Growth habit: Erect

Whole-plant habit and form as described by NC State.

Sources [3]
Life cycle: Biennial, Perennial
Sources [3]

Growing conditions

USDA hardiness: 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b

USDA zones listed by NC State; winter survival does not establish reliable cropping.

Sources [3]
Soil moisture:
Well-drained, Moist

Moisture and drainage conditions listed by NC State.

Sources [3]
Soil:
Clay, Loam (Silt), Sand
Sources [3]
pH:
Acid (<6.0), Neutral (6.0-8.0)
Sources [3]
Light:
Full sun, Partial Shade
Sources [3]

Uses

Edible parts:
Leaves
Edibility rating:
(4)
Medicinal rating:
(2)
Functions:
Carbon farming

Description

Leaves can be eaten both raw and cooked. When they are raw, they are somewhat bitter, but by cooking them in one or more changes of water, this bitterness is reduced. The slight bitter taste actually enhances the overall flavor, making this one of our favorite cooked leaf dishes. The plant can usually be harvested year-round, except during very cold winters when the harvest will be more limited.

Harvest

Harvest starts: 01/06
Harvest ends: 30/11

Sources and references

References for the information marked with source numbers on this page.

Sources checked
  1. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew World Checklist of Vascular Plants, version 16, extracted 4 June 2026
    Supports: Botanical familyTaxonomy
    Relevant sections
    • Botanical family: WCVP v16, wcvp_names.csv row 750150; name ID 2681967; Brassica L.. Family column.
    • Taxonomy: WCVP v16, wcvp_names.csv row 1329079; name ID 2682457; Brassica oleracea L..

    Source checked on .

    Source data licence: CC BY 3.0.

  2. Catalogue of Life Catalogue of Life 2026-08-20 — Brassica oleracea

    Taxonomic data from World Plants, version 26.05, reproduced in Catalogue of Life 2026-08-20.

    Supports: Taxonomy
    Relevant sections
    • Taxonomy: COL 2026-08-20, NameUsage.tsv line 5041858, ID N82N: Brassica oleracea L. (accepted).

    Source checked on .

  3. NC State Extension, North Carolina State University Brassica oleracea — Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox
    Supports: HeightSpreadGrowth rateGrowth habitLife cycleLightSoil moistureSoil textureSoil pHUSDA hardiness
    Relevant sections
    • Height: Dimensions > Height; Height: 0 ft. 10 in. - 2 ft. 0 in.
    • Spread: Dimensions > Width; Width: 1 ft. 0 in. - 2 ft. 0 in.
    • Growth rate: Growth Rate
    • Growth habit: Habit/Form
    • Life cycle: Life Cycle
    • Light: Light
    • Soil moisture: Soil Drainage
    • Soil texture: Soil Texture
    • Soil pH: Soil pH
    • USDA hardiness: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone

    Source checked on .