Variegated Collards
Brassica oleracea
Seeds per pack ~ 100
Germination: 83% Dec 2024 Packed for 2025
Origins and History
Variegated Collard is a rare and visually striking heirloom collard green, believed to have been maintained in the American South through small family farms and seed savers. Like many collards, its roots can be traced back to the African diaspora and the deep cultural foodways that preserved collard greens as a staple vegetable. The variegated form stands out among traditional collards for its unusual foliage pattern, and it has long been appreciated as both a culinary green and an ornamental garden plant. Heirloom preservation groups and Southern seed stewards have played an important role in keeping this unique strain alive.
Appearance and Characteristics
This collard is most notable for its mottled and streaked leaves—deep green foliage splashed with pale green, creamy white, or even yellowish patches. The plants grow upright with broad, flat, oval-shaped leaves typical of collards but with the distinctive variegation making them ornamental as well as edible. They can reach heights of 2–3 feet and withstand cooler temperatures. Like other collards, the flavor tends to improve after frost, becoming sweeter and less bitter.
Variegated collards have tender greens and great winter vegetables. They typically have green leaves and yellow or white streaks. The plants have good cold hardiness and can withstand temperatures as low as 20°F. In colder climates, the leaves of the plants turn a beautiful green-and-white as the weather gets colder. In the South, they can live up to 5+ years, and their stems can grow up to 3" in diameter.
Culinary Uses
Variegated Collard can be cooked in all the traditional ways associated with collard greens—slow-simmered with smoked meats, sautéed with garlic and olive oil, or added to soups and stews. Younger leaves can also be used raw in salads or lightly braised as a side dish. The striking coloration also makes them a beautiful garnish or edible highlight in mixed greens dishes, where their marbled pattern adds visual interest to the plate.
They have a mild and sweet flavor and are a great addition to any dish. Packed with vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants, they're a nutritious and delicious addition to your diet. Variegated collards also have a crunchy texture and can be cooked in various ways, from steaming to stir-frying. They are also great raw in salads like cole slaw.
Growing Tips
Variegated Collard is hardy and well-suited to USDA vegetation zones 7–10, though it can be grown as an annual in cooler zones. Seeds should be sown ¼ to ½ inch deep, with plants spaced 18–24 inches apart. Collards prefer full sun and rich, well-drained soil with consistent moisture. Mulching helps regulate soil temperature and suppress weeds. This variety, like others, is tolerant of light frost and can overwinter in mild climates. Successive plantings every 2–3 weeks can extend the harvest season.
Harvesting Guidance
Leaves can be harvested individually once they reach a usable size, typically 6–8 inches long. Collards are “cut-and-come-again” crops, so harvesting the lower, outer leaves encourages new growth from the center. Full plants may also be cut at the base if a large harvest is desired. For best flavor and tenderness, harvest after a light frost. Leaves store well refrigerated for about a week and can also be blanched and frozen for longer preservation.
