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Ornamental kale is a cold-loving plant that thrives best in cool, moist, sunny locations. The foliage will be more vivid and attractive in cool weather and, as such, it is best planted in early fall to avoid the summer heat. Due to the attractive color of the leaves in winter, it is ideal for Iowa, since even minus 20 degrees Fahrenheit temperatures will not harm it. If you want to add some welcome color to your winter garden, you can't go wrong with ornamental kale.

Please note that the Zones listed above are USDA Hardiness Zones and are only given as a rough indication of whether a plant will grow and thrive in your area. Temperature variations and unusual weather conditions can affect plant survival. To assist plant survival during the winter, you may wish to place mulch over the areas in question or plant the flowers in an area away from walls or cement. Additionally, digging up bulbs and roots to overwinter indoors may be preferrable to keeping them in the ground.