As we get further into fall with shorter days and cooler, damp weather, we’ll all be looking to add some brighteners to our gardens and containers.

We’ll need plants that have brilliance and hardiness and that blend well with other winter colour.

Some of the most overlooked plants are the ornamental kales and cabbages that are used so much around the world, but seldom here.

Part of the challenge is heavy winter rains on some of the very full headed varieties planted out in the open.

If these same varieties are placed under the eaves of our houses, they will stand up very well.

There are, however, varieties that will thrive out in the weather.

Fringed varieties, like the ‘Coral’ and ‘Peacock’ series, are ideal because rather than trapping water they allow water to simply flow through.

They come in white, pink and deep purple for an exquisite show.

I also find that the later planted, smaller headed varieties have rather loose heads and do not hold water.

The smaller, four-inch pots are ideal to mix in with containers and established plantings.

The secret to having them look their best is colour blocking them together in groups. Whites, pinks and purples look so good together and create a brilliant winter display.

Complementary companions are winter violas, pansies and dusty miller.

Evergreen grasses, such as carex, acorus and fescues, blend beautifully with ornamental kale and cabbage and make great focal points.

Flowering kale is also a great accent for evergreen ground covers and looks fabulous as underplantings for trees and winter flowering shrubs like viburnum ‘Pink Dawn’.

Hardiness is often more of an issue out in the Eastern Valley where exposure to extreme cold winds can cause their demise.

Kale will take a good deal of frost, but when we get frost in excess of minus-10 degrees C, they’ll have some difficulty.

There are, however, two shining lights – the newly introduced ‘Red Bor’ and ‘Laciniato‘ kale. If they have sun, these two can take minus-25 degrees C in their stride.

Both are magnificent taller varieties.

‘Red Bor’ is a deeply ruffled purple and ‘Laciniato’ is a green-silver showpiece.

Classy and elegant, they light up a winter garden.

Curiously, they are also edible and delicious when they’ve had a touch of frost.

There’s a wide selection of ornamental kale and cabbage now available in the Lower Mainland.

As your garden begins to lose its colour, these ornamental and colourful brassicas will add fresh new life.

Give them a try – it’s a perfect time for planting.

Brian Minter owns and operates Minter Gardens just outside of Chilliwack.