Walking Stick

Vertical growth habit, with stem becoming very tall. Leaves form canopy at top of stem like a tree; dark green; elliptic; wavy margin. Petioles light green to light purple. Largest leaves 13-22" long, 7-9" wide. Plants reached 5' tall, 2-3' wide at end of 2014 growing season at Heritage Farm. Afflicted by black rot in 2014. In fall, stalks are very sweet and juicy. Leaves are not as sweet as stalks, but flavor is still very good with no bitterness. However, taste is rather bitter when grown in spring. Brassica oleracea. Acquired by SSE from Thompson & Morgan. CV Tho offered this variety from at least 1985-2014. It is an heirloom variety from the Channel Islands, north of the Brittany coast, and was described in publications dating back to at least 1832. On the islands, the variety can reach heights of up to 20’ tall, and the stems can be used as building materials or walking sticks after they’ve been dried, carved, and polished. Previously classified incorrectly by SSE as a collard (formerly COLLARD 8 'Walking Stick'). SSE Accession # 107837