This is a curious and pre-historic looking perennial kale / collard, gifted to us by Sagara from ( East Devon forest garden). Merritt Tree Collards are a perennial brassica plant and were propagated from a cutting at Merritt College in Oakland by (Project Tree Collard) hence the name. The original plant probably self seeded in the garden from the numerous brassica species that all bloom at the same time. After flowering and setting seed in the spring, they generally return to vigorous vegetative growth if cut back a little.
Merritt Tree Collard
