Perennial Tree Collard

Description

Tree Collards/Kales (our variety is specifically “Purple Tree Collard”) are perennial brassicas resembling collard greens (larger leaves) or kale (young leaves) with a similar taste to kale. Cold hardy down to 20°F.

Not local? These companies ship tree collards.

Growth Habit

This plant has a large growth habit – our plants frequently reach 8-12 feet tall! Larger plants benefit from support, whether that is staking, wrapping around poles, or weaving through a wide trellis. You can also selectively harvest and prune plants to produce a more bush-like quality. If you are looking for a more naturally bush-like growth habit, try the Perennial Kale.

Winter Survivability

This variety is cold hardy down to 20°F, though our experiences with winter survivability are mixed. Snow and moisture seems to be a larger challenge in the Mt. Shasta climate, with fungal infection and rot often setting in toward the end of the winter season. We recommend planting next to your house for best winter survivability.

We plant these in large pots (5-15 gallon) and move them into our greenhouse for the winter, where they survive without additional heat and can be used as a food source in the winter.

Propagation

Plants are easily propagated by cuttings with little effort – simply snip off a piece of stem with some leaves, put into a pot of soil, and keep well moistened until roots are established.

Plants will flower and set seed. This does not mean the plant has reached the end of its life – it will continue to produce afterward. Seeds can be dried and propagated, though they will mix readily with other brassicas that you grow and may produce new varieties.