Brassica oleracea 'Dazzling Blue' (Kale)

Dazzling Blue is a kale with genuine star quality, and it earns the name. Bred in Oregon by Hank Keogh from a variant of Rainbow Lacinato, this variety has bold blue-green leaves accented by vivid pink to magenta midribs and stems that deepen and intensify as temperatures drop in autumn and winter. The deeply savoyed, slightly curled leaves grow upright to 24 to 36 inches, creating a dramatic architectural presence in the garden bed.

The flavor is everything you want in a Lacinato-style kale. Rich and mildly nutty with a gentle sweetness that becomes more pronounced after the first frost, the leaves are tender enough to use raw in salads when young and develop deeper complexity when cooked. Cold hardiness is excellent, making Dazzling Blue a reliable late-season and winter producer in the Pacific Northwest.

This is a variety with genuine local roots, bred by an Oregon farmer for conditions very much like those along the coast. It handles the damp, cool seasons with ease and keeps looking beautiful right through heavy frosts.