VegetableRadicchio
Palla Rosa Radicchio
Palla Rosa Radicchio is a striking heirloom variety of chicory that brings dramatic color and bold flavor to the garden. Its deeply red leaves are traced with crisp white veins, creating one of the most visually arresting color contrasts among radicchio cultivars. Ready to harvest in just 80 to 85 days, this compact head grows to about 4 inches in diameter, making it both ornamental and practical. It thrives in zones 3 through 9 and can be direct sown into full sun gardens, rewarding gardeners with a vegetable that tastes bitter and spicy fresh but mellows into surprising sweetness when cooked.
Photo © True Leaf Market
Growing Conditions
USDA Zone
3-9
Sunlight
Full Sun
Soil
Well-drained Loam; Drought-tolerant When Established
Growth Stats
TypeUpright
Spacing
18
Plant Profile
Sunlight
Full Sun
Water
—
Zones
3-9
Size
?in H x ?in W
Growth
—
Care
Moderate
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Highlights
The stark white veining against deep red leaves makes Palla Rosa instantly recognizable in the garden and on the plate. Its flavor transforms with heat, shifting from a sharp, tangy bite to something noticeably sweeter once cooked. At just 80 to 85 days to maturity, it's one of the faster radicchio varieties, and its compact 4-inch heads make it efficient for small spaces or succession plantings.
Common Uses
Palla Rosa works beautifully in raw salads where its bitter edge and striking appearance contribute both flavor and visual drama. The sharp, spicy taste cuts through rich ingredients and pairs well with bold dressings. When cooked, the flavor softens considerably, making it excellent for braising, roasting, or adding to warm grain dishes and pasta.
Growing Timeline
No timeline data available yet for this variety.
Care Instructions
Start Indoors
Start seeds indoors 4 to 6 weeks before your last frost date. Sow seeds at the depth indicated on your seed packet and keep the soil consistently moist. Transplant seedlings outdoors once they have developed a few true leaves and can be hardened off over 7 to 10 days.
Transplant Outdoors
Harden off seedlings by gradually exposing them to outdoor conditions over 7 to 10 days. Transplant after the last frost date when soil is workable. Space plants 18 inches apart in rows set 2 inches apart, and water gently to settle soil around roots.
Direct Sow
Palla Rosa can be direct sown directly into the garden. Sow seeds after the last spring frost when soil is workable. Space seeds according to packet directions and thin seedlings to 18 inches apart once they develop true leaves.
Harvesting
Harvest when heads reach about 4 inches in diameter and feel firm to the touch. This typically occurs 80 to 85 days after sowing. Cut the entire head at soil level with a sharp knife. Palla Rosa can be harvested at any point once heads are harvestable size; they do not need to reach maximum size to be flavorful.
Growing Calendar
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Companion Planting
Ecology & Traits
Edible
Scientific Classification
Cichorium intybus
Family
Asteraceae
Genus
Cichorium
Growth Habit
Upright
Native Status
L48 (I)CAN (I)SPM (I)