VegetableKale
Black Tuscan Lacinato or Dinosaur Kale
Black Tuscan Lacinato kale, also called Dinosaur kale, is a dark bluish-green heirloom from Italy that looks like it stepped out of prehistory. The embossed, heavily textured leaves have an unmistakable bumpy surface that gives the variety its prehistoric nickname. Ready to harvest in 50-59 days, it grows as a compact upright plant reaching just 12-18 inches tall, thriving in zones 5-10 with full sun. This is one of the most widely cultivated kale varieties in commercial agriculture, and for good reason: it's prolific, cold-hardy, and produces leaves that keep improving in flavor after a frost.
Photo © True Leaf Market
Growing Conditions
USDA Zone
5-10
Sunlight
Full Sun
Water
Moderate
Soil
Well-drained, Fertile Loam With Consistent Moisture
Growth Stats
18 in
Height
TypeUpright
Spacing
18
Plant Profile
Sunlight
Full Sun
Water
Moderate
Zones
5-10
Size
18in H x ?in W
Growth
—
Care
High
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Highlights
The deeply textured, almost wrinkled leaves are unlike smooth-leafed kales; they catch light and dressing differently, creating a visually dramatic garden presence. Its Italian heritage shows in the name itself, cavolo nero, meaning black cabbage. The variety is genuinely prolific, which is why it dominates commercial cultivation worldwide. Gardeners often report that flavor deepens after frost exposure, a bonus in cooler climates.
Common Uses
Fresh leaves work beautifully raw in salads, where the textured surface holds dressings better than smooth kales, and the flavor is refined without bitterness. Cooked, it becomes tender and almost silky, excelling in Italian soups, sautés, and braises. The leaves are sturdy enough for chip-making, crisping under high heat into delicate snacks. Its versatility across raw and cooked applications makes it a kitchen workhorse rather than a single-use vegetable.
Growing Timeline
No timeline data available yet for this variety.
Care Instructions
Start Indoors
Start seeds indoors 4-6 weeks before your last spring frost, planting at 1/4 inch depth in seed-starting mix. Keep soil temperature around 65-70°F for germination. Transplant seedlings under grow lights, keeping them at around 65°F during growth to prevent leggy plants.
Transplant Outdoors
Harden off seedlings over 7-10 days before transplanting outdoors after the last frost date. Plant into soil that has warmed to at least 50°F. Space plants 18 inches apart with 24 inches between rows. Transplant in late afternoon or on cloudy days to minimize transplant shock.
Direct Sow
In warm climates or for fall crops, direct sow seeds 1/4 inch deep where you want them to grow. Sow thickly, then thin seedlings to 18 inches apart once they've developed true leaves. Direct sowing works especially well for fall plantings that will mature in cool weather.
Harvesting
Begin harvesting outer leaves once the plant reaches 8-10 inches tall, typically 50-59 days after sowing. Pinch or cut leaves from the bottom and sides of the plant, working upward, which encourages the plant to continue producing new growth from the center. The deeply textured leaves will feel firm when ready. Harvest regularly rather than all at once; removing outer leaves prolongs productivity. Flavor actually sweetens noticeably after a light frost, making fall and early winter harvests particularly rewarding.
Growing Calendar
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Companion Planting
Ecology & Traits
Edible
Scientific Classification
Brassica oleracea var. sabellica
Family
Brassicaceae
Genus
Brassica
Growth Habit
Upright
Native Status
L48 (I)PR (I)CAN (W)GL (W)
History & Origin
“Lacinato kale originated in Italy, where it has been grown for generations and earned its poetic Italian name, cavolo nero. The variety represents one of the oldest kale lineages in European cultivation, passed down through Italian farming families and eventually becoming so commercially successful that it now appears in grocery stores globally. By preserving and growing this heirloom, you're participating in the same agricultural tradition that Italian cooks have relied on for centuries. It's been saved by gardeners and seed companies specifically because of its productivity, hardiness, and the unique character of its deeply textured leaves.”