Lifelike Faux-Real Ornamental Kale Stem looks freshly picked from the garden. Handcrafted with layers of curled petals shaped,Hand Painted Variegated Shades of Light Green layered leaves are assembled by hand. This lush faux flower looks life like all year long with little to no maintenance unlike their real counterparts. Perfect for early Spring, Summer or Fall into Winter decorating. We love to add them to our Holiday greenery as well.
Melissa's Tips and Tricks - Although we love fresh flowers, building a faux floral “wardrobe” to pull from when you don’t have time or patience for fresh flowers can be a lifesaver.
We recommend starting with a dozen stems of your favorite floral pairings and a versatile vase you know is the right size, then build a collection of seasonal and occasional options. Choose your floral selection like the professionals do, a mix of fillers, thrillers and a few spillers.
It is a wonderful investment when your arrangement doesn’t turn out the way you expected and/or who hasn’t woken up to unexpectedly wilted flowers. We think they are also perfect for weekend homes or when you leave for a trip, always lovely to greet you and never deal with a dead arrangement and smelly water again.
*Need help selecting or don’t see what your looking for? Contact us for the most realistic selection of custom options.
DIMENSIONS: Flower head 3.5" wide, Stem 18" long Hand Painted
CARE & MAINTENANCE: We recommend avoiding direct sunlight as this can diminish the stems vibrance overtime.
Lightly dust regularly to keep looking fresh, refresh as needed by misting with water or flower spray cleaner.
For deep cleaning once a year or so we run a warm bath, then gently rinse or dip each stem in clear warm water. Lay on a bath towel to dry and your blooms will look like new.
FACTS & HISTORY: You may not find this kind of kale in your produce department. Although ornamental kales are relatives of vegetables like the cabbage, broccoli and cauliflower we eat today, these perennial and biennial herbs have been cultivated for their good looks, not so much for their taste.
Natives of Southern and Western Europe and temperate regions of China and Japan, ornamental kales and cabbages have ancient origins that date back at least 4,000 years. Historically, the propagation of wild members of kale and cabbage (in the Brassica oleracea species) began in the Mediterranean, with the Greeks and Romans using the plants primarily as a food source. They were also seen in herbal medicines and made into poultices that could disinfect wounds.
Early travelers and traders later began spreading the plants across all corners of the globe. Once kale reached China, it was a standard ingredient in Chinese cuisine, while in Japan, ornamental foliage types were more widely grown and demanded. By the 17th century, ornamental brassicas became attractive new additions to cottage gardens as bedding plants. When ornamental types finally reached the U.S. from Japan in the 20th century, ornamental kale saw its first debut in seed catalogs in the 1930s. The rest is history.
Today, ornamental kales and cabbages are hybridized by breeders from edible kale types with strong foliar coloration. As their common name suggests, ornamental kale and cabbage plants are grown primarily for decorative reasons. In spite of the fact that they are edible, and have been used as garnishes in recipes, their bitter taste and cabbage-like scent leave much to be desired. Nonetheless, the plants’ intensely-colored leaves and texture offer volume and strong visual interest, making them coveted accent plants by designers and home gardeners.
