Lacinato kale, also called Black Tuscan or Dinosaur kale, is a striking heirloom vegetable with deeply textured blue-green leaves that have been grown since the 1700s. The plants reach up to 18 inches tall with leaves up to 3 inches wide, thriving in zones 5-10 under full sun. Ready to harvest in 50-59 days (though some sources report 48-60 days), this cold-tolerant variety becomes sweeter and more tender after a hard frost, making it one of the most flavorful kales for the home garden.
Photo © True Leaf Market
Growing Conditions
USDA Zone
5-10
Sunlight
Full Sun
Water
Moderate
Soil
Well-drained, Fertile Loam With Consistent Moisture
Preferred Temp60-70°F
Growth Stats
—
Height
—
Width
18 in
Spacing
48–48
Days to Harvest
PeriodPerennial
TypeForb/herb
Plant Profile
Sunlight
Full Sun
Water
Moderate
Zones
5-10
Size
?in H x ?in W
Growth
Perennial
Care
Moderate
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Highlights
The leaves transform after a frost, developing sweeter, more tender qualities that make fall and winter harvests exceptional. With blue-green foliage that's distinctly crinkled and deeply textured, this kale delivers both visual drama in the garden and outstanding flavor whether steamed, stir-fried, juiced, or crisped into chips. Its prolific production means one plant supplies generous harvests throughout the season, and it thrives equally well in garden beds or containers.
Common Uses
This kale shines in soups, where its tender texture breaks down beautifully into broths, and it's exceptional when massaged with lemon juice for salads or wraps that rival lettuce in crunch. Steaming and stir-frying bring out its mild, slightly sweet character, and the leaves crisp into addictive kale chips. Home gardeners also prize it for juicing, where the blue-green leaves contribute both nutrition and a slightly less bitter taste than other kale varieties.
Growing Timeline
First Bloom
50-60 Days
First Harvest
65-75 Days
Last Harvest
Mild Winters
Care Instructions
Start Indoors
Sow seeds 2 inches apart in seed starting mix, covering them 1/2 inch deep. Keep the soil moist and provide a strong light source. Once seedlings reach 3-4 inches tall, they're ready to harden off and transplant outdoors.
Transplant Outdoors
Space seedlings 10-12 inches apart outdoors when they reach 3-4 inches tall and have been hardened off. If spacing for mature plants, use 18-inch spacing between plants in rows 24 inches apart.
Harvesting
Begin harvesting individual leaves once the plant is well-established, typically 50-59 days after planting. Harvest from the bottom of the plant upward, removing outer mature leaves while allowing the center to continue growing. The leaves reach peak tenderness and sweetness after a hard frost. Continue harvesting throughout the season as new leaves develop from the center.
Growing Calendar
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Companion Planting
Ecology & Traits
Edible
Scientific Classification
Brassica oleracea L.
Family
Brassicaceae
Genus
Brassica
Duration
Perennial
Growth Habit
Upright
Native Status
L48 (I)PR (I)CAN (W)GL (W)
History & Origin
“Lacinato kale dates back to the 1700s, originating in Italy where it became a staple in Tuscan cuisine. This heirloom was preserved and passed through generations as a foundational crop in Mediterranean gardens. The common name 'Dinosaur kale' references the unusual texture of its deeply puckered leaves, which give the plant its distinctive prehistoric appearance. Its journey from Italian vegetable gardens to seed catalogs worldwide reflects the broader movement to preserve and celebrate heirloom vegetables.”