Kenya Natural History Guide >>> Plants >>> Brassica oleracea

Kale
Sukuma Wiki

Brassica oleracea

Sukuma Wiki, Brassica oleracea, a frequent vegetable garden plant at mid and high elevations, Kenya, photo © by Michael Plagens

Photographed in a Nairobi neighborhood. April 2011.

The flowers are yellow with four petals, Sukuma Wiki from Kitale, Kenya, Africa, photo © Michael Plagens Mustard Greens or Kale are a staple vegetable grown in cooler mid and higher elevations in Kenya. The plants grow taller as the lower leaves are harvested for cooking. Sukuma Wiki, the local Kiswahili name refers to pushing or extending the weekly food budget. The plants are easy to grow and produce an abundance of green, leafy vegetable. The same plant species in its different varieties produces head cabbage, broccoli, kohlrabi, cauliflower and brussel's sprouts. Cabbage Aphids are among the insects found on this plant.

Brassicaceae -- Mustard Family

More Information:

Some Insects and other Fauna on Coles in Kenya

A colony of Cabbage Aphids on the underside of Sukuma Wiki from Eldoret, Kenya, Africa, photo © Michael Plagens Beneficial Hover Fly Larva Variegated Lady Beetle Beneficial Lady Bird Pupa Herbivorous Snail-Slug

Kenya Natural History

Copyright Michael J. Plagens, page created on 20 August 2011, update 4 September 2013.