Just wanted to update y'all that my kale tree has bolted since I last posted. Last time it did this was 2023. Right now we're letting the cabbage butterflies/caterpillars and other insects have at it. Which the birds have been loving, especially our localized population of Swinhoe's white eye (cute yellow bird originally from SE Asia that made its way to Orange County about 2 decades ago).
For those who didn't see my last post..I've had this kale since 2021 and it's still going strong.
Photo 1: July 2025
Photo 2: June 2025
Photo 3: June 2021
Variety: Curly Kale (not Dinosaur/Lacinato kale that some thought it might be)
Zone 10, Southern California (coastal Orange County)
by MiloSanDiego
17 Comments
Wait wtf kale can get that big???
Ngl I think about your kale tree often
It never tried to go to seed this whole time? I’ve heard of this from tree collards but to see curly leaf kale as a tree is blowing my mind.
Looks awesome!
Can you keep harvesting it after it’s bolted, or does this mean your tree is finished forever?
Tree is the right term here. I didn’t even know they could get that big lol.
https://preview.redd.it/v4eugew3pccf1.jpeg?width=288&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=408c88df350d172d78902debfa1e235cd5506016
Seeds for next year
I told my mom about your kale tree last week and she was like “are you serious?” I was mom, I was.
Why are we not all doing this immediately?!? This is incredible!
Never seen a kale like that before. Bravo 👏🏻
Wow! That looks prehistoric and tasty!
I have a purple tree collard and it will bloom itself to death if I let it. Yours looks fine, but if it seems to be putting a lot of energy into flowers, but them off.
I’m so jealous. Squirrel are butchering mine.
I love your kale tree. I think about it every time I eat kale haha
Wow so stunning!!!
I’m rooting for you, Kale Tree
If you can reach them, the flower stalks are really good, kind of like broccolini.