Savory cabbages are biennials grown as an annual and named after the Savoy region in France. They are also known as Milan and Lombard cabbage after those two regions of Italy. The genus name is Latin for cabbage. Cabbages are cool-weather plants and are best grown in full sun in amended, well-drained moist garden soils. Get a soil test before planting and fertilize according to recommendations. Seeds can be started indoors and transplanted to the garden in late summer for a fall or winter crop. A second crop can be obtained from an early spring planting. Savory cabbage can be a bit more challenging to grow. These cabbages generally have less densely packed heads than other cabbages and leaves have a crinkled appearance. They are more tender and subtly sweet than other cabbages. They are ready to pick when they feel heavy for their size and the color is a bright green. They are versatile plants and can be eaten raw or cooked in various ways. Plant in the edible garden or amount the perennials for winter interest. Click here to see a calendar of planting schedules, time-to-harvest, and recommended spacing. Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: Slugs can be a problem as well as cabbage worms, cabbage loopers, caterpillars, cutworms, slugs, and nematodes. and cabbage aphids. Leaf spot, blackleg, black rot, and yellows can be an issue. Some may be affected by root maggots. The Clemson Cooperative Extension Home and Garden Information Center has a factsheet on common Cole crop diseases and other plant problems. More information on Brassica oleracea VIDEO Created by Elisabeth Meyer for " Edibles, Bulbs, and Houseplants " a plant identification course offered in partnership with Longwood Gardens. More information on Brassica oleracea .
Curated pairwise relationships between this plant and others in the library — who feeds
whom, who competes, who confuses the pests. Green reads as a good pairing, red as one to avoid.
No curated interactions recorded for this species yet.
Also noted by NC State
Related species the NC State Plant Toolbox flags for this plant — look-alikes to tell
apart, and plants that play a similar role in a planting. Ones we carry in the library are linked.
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
Soil texture
Clay; High Organic Matter; Loam (Silt); Sand
Soil pH
Neutral (6.0-8.0)
Soil drainage
Good Drainage | Moist
Available space
12 inches-3 feet
NC region
Coastal; Mountains; Piedmont
Mature size
Height: 1 ft. 0 in. - 2 ft. 0 in. | Width: 1 ft. 0 in. - 2 ft. 0 in.
Growth rate
Medium
Maintenance
Medium
Canopy layer
4 - Herbaceous (1-3 ft)
Form & Appearance
Habit / form
Broad; Clumping; Dense; Rounded
Texture
Medium
Leaf color
Green; Purple/Lavender; White
Leaf type
Simple
Leaf arrangement
Alternate
Leaf shape
Obovate
Leaf margin
Lobed
Leaf feel
Fleshy; Leathery; Smooth
Leaf value
Edible; Showy
Leaf size
> 6 inches long, > 6 inches wide
Hairs present
No
Leaf detail
Thick leaves with wavy or lobed margins form a head
Flower color
Gold/Yellow; White
Flower form
Raceme
Flower shape
Cross
Flower detail
Yellow or white 4 petalled flowers in year two
Fruit type
Siliqua
Fruit detail
The fruit dries and splits when ripe.
Wildlife & Ecology
Native status
Non-native
Origin
Western Europe
Wildlife value
Attracts bees.
Food & Medicine
Edible parts
Leaves
Fruit type
Siliqua
Edibility
The leaves of these plants are edible.
Landscape Use
Landscape theme
Edible Garden; Pollinator Garden; Winter Garden
Design feature
Mass Planting; Small groups
Garden tags
#edible leaves #cool season vegetable #frost tolerant #medicinal #clay soils tolerant #problem for horses #coastal plant #annual
Problems & Resistance
Insect problems
Slugs and Snails Found on Flowers and Foliage; Caterpillars Found on Flowers and Foliage; Cabbage Looper on Ornamentals; Insect and Related Pests of Vegetables; Pests of Crucifers
Disease problems
Southern Bacterial Wilt on Herbaceous Ornamental Plants; Weed Management in Broccoli, Cabbage, and Cauliflower