Nagoya Ornamental Cabbage 4.5"

Nagoya Red & Nagoya White

Beautiful Cool-Season Color for Fall & Winter Gardens

Bring rich texture and elegant seasonal color to containers and garden beds with Nagoya Ornamental Cabbage. Known for its beautifully ruffled foliage and striking rosette form, Nagoya creates a sophisticated display as temperatures begin to cool.

Available in Nagoya Red and Nagoya White, these compact plants are wonderful for fall planters, window boxes, porch pots, borders, and mass plantings. Their color becomes even more vibrant with cooler weather, carrying the garden beautifully from autumn into winter.

Plant History

Ornamental cabbage and kale are members of the Brassica family and are closely related to the edible cabbages grown in vegetable gardens. Through generations of selection, ornamental varieties were developed for their dramatic foliage, compact form, and beautiful cool-weather coloring.

The Nagoya series is especially prized for its deeply fringed, ruffled leaves and richly colored centers.

Meaning & Significance

Cabbage has long been associated with prosperity, abundance, and good fortune. In the ornamental garden, its beautiful layered foliage also represents the abundance and beauty found in the changing seasons.

Color

Nagoya Red: Features richly colored centers in shades of rosy red, burgundy, and purple surrounded by blue-green foliage.

Nagoya White: Features creamy white to soft ivory centers surrounded by contrasting blue-green foliage.

Color typically intensifies as temperatures become cooler.

Mature Size

Container Size: 4.5" pot
Height: Approximately 8–12"
Spread: Approximately 10–12"

Mature size can vary depending on growing conditions.

Season of Interest

Fall through Winter

Unlike traditional flowering annuals, ornamental cabbage is grown primarily for its colorful foliage. Plants become particularly striking after cool temperatures arrive and can continue providing color well after many warm-season annuals have finished.

Light Requirements

Full Sun to Part Sun

For the best color and compact growth, provide approximately 6 hours of sunlight per day. In warmer Southern fall weather, some afternoon protection can be beneficial while plants become established.

Growing Zones

Typically grown as a cool-season annual throughout USDA Zones 2–11.

In the South, Nagoya cabbage is especially useful for bringing color to containers and landscapes throughout the cooler fall and winter months.

Watering & Care

Water: Keep soil evenly moist but well drained. Water when the top inch of soil begins to feel dry, taking care not to allow plants to remain in standing water.

Soil: Prefers fertile, well-drained soil enriched with organic matter.

Fertilizing: A light application of balanced fertilizer can encourage healthy establishment. Avoid excessive fertilization, which can encourage loose growth rather than the compact form desired in ornamental cabbage.

Maintenance: Remove older or damaged lower leaves as needed to maintain a clean, attractive rosette.

Companion Plants

Create a beautiful cool-season Southern garden by pairing Nagoya ornamental cabbage with:

• Pansies
• Violas
• Snapdragons
• Dusty Miller
• Heuchera
• Ornamental grasses
• Dianthus
• Evergreen accents
• Mums

For containers, combine several plants at different heights and textures for a layered display that carries beautifully from fall into the holiday season.

Garden Tip

Cooler temperatures bring out the best color. Nagoya cabbage may appear greener during warm early-fall weather, but as nighttime temperatures drop, its red or creamy-white center becomes increasingly vivid.

Botanical Name: Brassica oleracea
Common Name: Ornamental Cabbage / Flowering Cabbage
Varieties: Nagoya Red & Nagoya White
Plant Type: Cool-Season Annual
Exposure: Full Sun to Part Sun
Season: Fall–Winter
Container Size: 4.5" Pot
Uses: Containers, Borders, Window Boxes, Mass Plantings & Seasonal Displays

With its ruffled foliage and beautiful cool-weather color, Nagoya Ornamental Cabbage is a timeless choice for bringing texture, charm, and lasting seasonal interest to Southern porches and gardens.