SafePlants

Tronchuda Cabbage: A Unique Portuguese Vegetable

Tronchuda cabbage, also known as Portuguese cabbage, defies easy categorization. It's a leafy green that shares characteristics of both kale and cabbage, making it a fascinating and versatile vegetable for the home garden.

Scientific Name and Common Names

• Scientific Name: Brassica oleracea var. costata DC.
• Common Names:
  • Tronchuda Cabbage
  • Portuguese Cabbage
  • Portuguese Kale
  • Sea Kale Cabbage
  • Couve Tronchuda (Portuguese)
  • Beira Tronchuda Cabbage
  • Portuguese Sea Kale

Taxonomy and Nomenclature

• Family: Brassicaceae (or Cruciferae)
• Kingdom: (Not explicitly mentioned, but implied as Plantae)
• Synonyms: Brassica oleracea costata
• Note: It is crucial to distinguish Tronchuda cabbage from true Sea Kale (Crambe maritima).

Distribution and Habitat

• Native to Portugal, where it is a significant part of Portuguese horticulture.
• Cultivated in Europe and available through seed catalogs and online retailers.

Morphological Characteristics and Growth Habits

• Tronchuda cabbage features broad, jade-green leaves with fleshy white ribs.
• It grows in a loose-head form, with wide-spreading leaves.
• The leaves are described as succulent and more cabbage-like than other kales.
• The fleshy stems or petioles are also edible and enjoyed.

Culinary Uses

• Tronchuda cabbage is a versatile vegetable, with leaves that can be eaten like celery.
• It can be used as a sweeter and more tender substitute for cabbage, kale, and collards.
• It is a key ingredient in some specialty soups.

Interactions with Other Organisms

• Tronchuda cabbage is susceptible to cabbage worms, loopers, and root maggots.

Quirky Facts

• Tronchuda cabbage is described as transitional between kales and cabbages, defying easy categorization.
• It stands heat better than other kales and doesn't require cold to sweeten its flavor.

Further Information

• Royal Horticultural Society (RHS)
• Wikimedia Commons