Red Mustard
Miz America is a stunning hybrid mustard bred to deliver what few other greens can: a plant that's as beautiful as it is delicious. This Brassica juncea hybrid grows to 18, 24 inches with deep lobes and a distinctive purple-to-red coloring that only intensifies as it matures, making it equally at home in a vegetable bed or flower border. Ready to harvest in just 30, 39 days, it thrives in zones 2, 10 and produces edible leaves, seeds, and stems all season. The combination of visual drama and genuine flavor has made it a favorite for gardeners who refuse to choose between ornamental appeal and culinary reward.
Full Sun
Moderate
2-10
24in H x ?in W
Annual, Perennial
High
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What sets Miz America apart is its commitment to color consistency throughout its entire lifecycle. Unlike many ornamental mustards that fade as they mature, this hybrid maintains that striking purple-to-red hue right through to harvest, giving you a genuinely decorative plant that also delivers on taste. The deep-lobed foliage and rich pigmentation make it a standout addition to any garden space, while the edibility of leaves, seeds, and stems means nothing goes to waste. It's a variety that refuses to be categorized as simply ornamental or simply functional.
Miz America's edible parts make it versatile in the kitchen and garden alike. The tender young leaves work beautifully in salads, where their color adds visual pop alongside their mustard bite. As the plant matures, the leaves become heartier and can be sautéed, steamed, or worked into cooked dishes where their flavor deepens. The seeds are also edible and can be harvested and used as you would any mustard seed. Because every part of the plant, leaves, seeds, and stems, is edible, it's an especially rewarding crop that minimizes waste.
Transplant seedlings outdoors after they've developed 2–3 true leaves. Space them 6 inches apart in rows 10 inches apart in a location with full sun. Ensure soil temperature is cool (below 70°F is ideal for best color and flavor) and harden off seedlings by gradually exposing them to outdoor conditions over 7–10 days before transplanting.
Direct sow seeds into prepared soil in early spring or mid-to-late summer for a fall crop. Plant seeds at the appropriate depth and thin seedlings to 6 inches apart once they've developed true leaves. Cool soil temperatures will encourage faster germination and better color development.
Begin harvesting Miz America as soon as 30, 39 days after planting, depending on your desired maturity level. You can pick individual outer leaves once the plant has established several true leaves, allowing the center to continue growing for repeated harvests. For the fullest color expression and best flavor, harvest when the deep purple-to-red coloring is most pronounced. Cut or pinch leaves from the base of the plant, or harvest the entire rosette at once if you prefer. Young leaves are most tender for salads, while more mature leaves are better for cooking.
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“Miz America was specifically bred as a hybrid to solve a problem that had long frustrated ornamental mustard growers: maintaining consistent color. Plant breeders recognized that gardeners wanted a mustard that stayed visually striking from transplant through maturity, and they developed this variety to deliver exactly that. The purple-to-red pigmentation remains true even as the plant grows and matures, a trait that required intentional selection and crossing to achieve. This is a modern variety born from the desire to blur the line between flower bed and food garden.”