Are There Flowers That Look Like Cabbage?

Last updated on August 22nd, 2023 at 03:20 am

Have you ever noticed plants or flowers that look like cabbage in your friend’s garden or nursery? Or have you ever wondered if there are other plants or flowers that are similar to cabbage?

When talking about cabbage, what comes first to your mind? Is it their nutrients or is it their flower-like form? Well, everyone must have eaten or at least seen a cabbage. Besides being rich in vitamin C, cabbage is also known for its beautiful shape, resembling a flower.

However, some flowers are similar to cabbages and the benefits are no less amazing! In this topic, we will show you what those flowers are.

First, what is cabbage?

Cabbages, whose Latin name is Brassica oleracea var. capitata, is a biennial plant that originated from the Southern and Western parts of Europe. A relative to kale, cauliflower, broccoli, and brussel sprout, cabbage is a part of a shallow root system plant, meaning they don’t need to expand and grow its roots deeply to absorb water.

On average, they’re around 7 to 12 inches in diameter, with an average weight of 500 to 1000 grams, and an average height of 12 to 14 inches depending on their variety. Cabbage has more than 400 cultivars, ranging in colors from white, green, purple, and red.

List of flowers that look like a cabbage.

By simply looking at their appearance, we shall already know what kind of flowers look like cabbage plants. We can easily find them in our daily lives.

1. Ornamental Cabbages

   Apart from ordinary cabbage that we usually add to our dishes, ornamental cabbage, also known as flowering cabbage or ornamental kale, is still a part of the Brassicaceae family. However, rather than for consumption, ornamental cabbages are grown for aesthetic purposes, tend to taste more bitter than usual cabbage, and have more striking colors.

2. Roses

   You might agree that roses are the most flowers that look like a cabbage. Both oval-shaped with layers of petals, roses could pass as the mini version of cabbages. Cabbage rose or Provence rose, a type of popular hybrid rose, was also named after their resembling part of a cabbage head.

3. Echeveria Ruffles

  The next flowers that look like cabbage are echeveria ruffles. A native to Mexico and Central America, echeveria ruffles is a flowering succulent plant with blue-green, pinkish red, or red color on each rosette. With 12 inches wide, the same size as cabbage, echeveria ruffles could be mistaken as one.

Another species of echeveria that also ‘kinda’ looks like a cabbage flower is Echeveria Mebina.

4. Cabbage Head Agave

   Other flowering succulent plants that look like cabbage is cabbage head agave or agave parrasana. Unlike echeveria ruffles, these blue-green flowers have thorns that grow all over their rosette, so be careful when you pick one. They’re smaller in diameter than agave parryi, a similar plant from the genus Asparagaceae.

5. Peonies

   Peonies look almost indistinguishable from ornamental cabbages. Known as one of the most famous alternatives to roses, peonies also prefer shallow planting depth, just like cabbages. They only bloom during late spring and early summer and don’t need much care to maintain.

6. Carnation

  As edible as cabbage, carnations are widely known for their scent, symbolism, and of course, their beautiful morphology. What’s more unique about carnations is, you can change their color depending on what color you like by placing each of them in one colored-water glass.

7. Ranunculus

   Unlike cabbage, ranunculus is a poisonous flower with a strong bitter, and acidic taste. They have no smell and there are over 600 species of them. Plus note to add, they’re easy to grow and most of the time are disease and pests-resistant.

8. Begonia

   These pink, yellow, salmon, and reddish-orange flowers share the same shallow-rooted growth and are also edible like cabbages. They are also a perfect choice if you’re new to gardening.  

9. Gardenia or Cape Jasmine

      Gardenia makes it to the last list of flower that looks like cabbage leaves. Originating from South-East Asia with bright or warm white color, gardenias can grow from 6 to 8 feet tall. In some cultures, they symbolize purity, trust, and hope.

What can you do with flowers that look like cabbage?

Most of us, especially if we love cooking, already know what cabbage is used for. But what about those plants that look like cabbage?

Generally, they are as useful as cabbage but remember, not all of them are edible. For example, you can use flowers like ornamental cabbage to garnish your special dish but not to eat it.

While succulent flowers like echeveria ruffles, cat’s claw, and cabbage head agave are decorative plants, which means they have always been used to adorn your house and garden.

For flowers like roses, peonies, gardenias, and carnations, you can do limitless. Not only a superior add-on to your bouquet, roses, for instance, also can be made as tea. A good guarantee for your skin, these flowers are also a favorite ingredient among perfume makers because of their sweet and fragrant aroma.

Final thoughts.

Both cabbage and flowers that look like cabbage serve us with various benefits. No matter if it’s for food, beauty, health, or artistic reasons, you can freely choose which one is suitable the most for your needs.