Description
Purple Tree Collards, Brassica oleracea var. acephala (aka Purple Tree Kale or Purple Tree Cabbage) are a perennial vegetable related to collard greens. They can get over eight feet in height and will continue to grow and produce year after year. They turn darker purple tones in cool months and are lighter green in warm months. They rarely go to seed. They can survive temperatures down to around 20 degrees Fahrenheit. Many people find that the flavor of Purple Tree Collards is superior to traditional collard greens. They are very productive and tend to be more disease and pest resistant. In addition to humans, chickens and ducks love to eat tree collards and their egg yolks turn a brilliant orange. Like other collard greens, Purple Tree Collards are very nutritious. They are high in Vitamins B1, B2, B9, C, and beta-Carotene and are a great source of fiber.
All of our cuttings are tip cuttings from young, healthy growth on our mother plants which are grown in fertile, compost rich soil. We never use pesticides, herbicides, or synthetic fertilizers in our garden. Cuttings are wrapped in damp paper and a small plastic bag so that they will remain moist during transit. Starting a new tree collard plant can be easy but it takes a moment of daily attention until the plants have rooted. If you want to skip the step of rooting cuttings, you can buy plants that are already rooted.
Detailed instructions for growing your tree collards will be included with your order. You can also find our videos on Youtube at Project Tree Collard. Most of our customers have had great success with rooting cuttings. However, we cannot guarantee your success. They are sold in bundles of 3 or 4 because they sometimes don’t all root.
Please have high quality potting soil and some 4″ or 1 gallon containers on hand for their arrival. Tree collards root best in mild weather conditions and will need sun. If your region is hot when you receive your cuttings, you’ll want to keep them in partial shade while they form roots. We have a tutorial here showing how to root tree collards from cuttings.
Please note that while we hope that every order we ship thrives in your garden, we cannot be responsible for cuttings that freeze or get cooked in your mailbox or suffer for any other reason outside of our control. Please consider the weather in your region when ordering. We do our best to ensure a safe journey for your plants but cannot be responsible for weather-related damage. If there is a defect with your order please take photos and contact us within 24 hours of arrival. We hope you enjoy your cuttings!
