Veldkool

Trachyandra ciliata

Cape 'field cabbage': the unopened flower spikes are picked in late winter and cooked like asparagus.

Type: herb or perennial · perennial vegetables, greens and herbs
Hardiness: zones 9 to 10
Light: full sun
Size: about 1.5 ft tall, 2 ft wide
Harvest: January to March
From: West coast of South Africa
Drought-hardy once established
Here: Too tender to overwinter outdoors on the Lake Erie shore (zone 6b to 7a): grow it in a pot and bring it in, or treat it as an annual.

Good for: food.

Native to: Cape of South Africa. Hardy in zones 9 to 10.

The story

Veldkool, field cabbage, is one of the wild foods of the Cape west coast that Khoekhoe families gathered each winter and settlers adopted. It still goes into a slow lamb bredie in Strandveld kitchens.

Planting

Full sun and sandy, well-drained soil with winter rain and a dry summer.

Growing

It grows in the cool season and rests in summer. Leave it dry while dormant.

Harvest and use

Snap off the flower spikes while the buds are tight and green, in late winter. Steam them, or stew them with lamb, onion and sorrel.

What to watch for

Once the buds open they turn stringy and bitter. Summer irrigation.

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More perennial vegetables, greens and herbs

General guidance, not professional advice. Conditions vary by yard and year; for local specifics ask your county extension office. Never eat a wild plant you cannot identify with certainty. Traditional uses are shared as history, not medical advice. © 2026 Sean Priest · Irie Orchard. Terms & credits · Privacy · Home