Songbird Pink Kale (Brassica oleracea 'Songbird Pink')
BRASS-ih-kah oh-ler-AY-see-ah 'Songbird Pink'

Annual (usually grown as an annual near you) Rosette in the Brassicaceae Family

A compact ornamental kale with a blush-pink center that deepens to rose as fall temperatures cool, held in the tidy, rain-shedding Songbird habit.

'Songbird Pink' is part of Takii Seed's Song Bird series of compact ornamental flowering kale, similar to Takii's Pigeon series but with a more compact, upright habit that sheds rain well. It forms a dense rosette of green outer leaves surrounding a center that opens pale pink and deepens toward rose as fall nights turn cold.

Like other ornamental kale, it is technically edible but bred for its colorful rosette display rather than eating quality, and is popular for fall containers, beds, and seasonal displays.

Pros

  • Compact, uniform rosette with a soft pink center color
  • Upright habit sheds rain well, keeping the display tidy through fall
  • Color deepens as temperatures cool, extending seasonal interest

Cons

  • Grown primarily for color, not flavor -- leaves are generally too bitter for good eating
  • Susceptible to common cabbage pests like worms, loopers, and flea beetles
  • Will bolt and send up yellow flower stalks the following spring if left in place over winter
Highlights

A compact ornamental kale with a soft pink center that deepens through fall, prized for its tidy, rain-shedding rosette form.
 

Plant Data

Mature Size 8 - 12 inches tall. 12 - 18 inches wide.
Growth Rate Moderate
Sun Exposure Partial Shade - Full Sun
Moisture Tolerance Medium
Zones 2a - 11b (Usually hardy to -50° F)
Tags Annual, Annual in Chicago, Attracts Pollinators, Attracts Wildlife, Colorful Foliage, Container, Fall Annuals, Fall Color, Full Sun, Grown as Annuals, Grown For Attractive Foliage, Medium, Partial Shade, Partial Sun, Popular For Fall
Bloom Period Rarely flowers (grown as annual foliage)
Flower Color Yellow (rarely blooms; grown as annual foliage)
Foliage Color

Commonly Planted with...

Mums, pansies, ornamental grasses, and other cool-season fall annuals.
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Pricing and Availability History

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Past Availability
2025 : 08/10 - 10/04
2024 : 05/01 - 09/21
2023 : 08/16 - 09/30

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Field-Grown vs. Greenhouse-Grown Plants

Plants which are well-adapted to our local climate are most often field-grown (outside). Field-grown plants are generally cheaper and have the advantage of already somewhat acclimated to our cold winters, but that means they’re not artificially far along in the spring and tend to bloom at the normal time in our area.

Spring annuals and tender perennials are typically grown in Greenhouses so they can be ready and luxurious exactly when customers want them. Some perennials are also “forced” into early bloom in greenhouses. In May, there can be a very big difference between field-grown and greenhouse-grown plants of the same type. The latter typically look good right away (so they’re a great choice where that’s important), but we typically pay a premium for it.


Estimated Recipe Cost

The cost of this recipe's ingredients will vary depending on the season and the sizes and varieties you select.


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No Pricing or Availability Right Now

We order from a rotating cast of the best nurseries in the Great Lakes region. It looks like we've offered this plant in the past, but the nurseries we're working with this week don't appear to have it in stock at the moment.

Our goal is to bring as many plants together under "one roof" as possible, so we'll try hard to make it available again in the future!