Gai lan

Gai lan, kai-lan, Chinese broccoli,[1] Chinese kale, or jie lan (Brassica oleracea var. alboglabra)[2] is a leaf vegetable with thick, flat, glossy blue-green leaves with thick stems, and florets similar to (but much smaller than) broccoli. Another Brassica oleracea cultivar, gai lan is in the group alboglabra (from Latin albus “white” and glabrus “hairless”). When gone to flower, its white blossoms resemble that of its cousin Matthiola incana or Hoary Stock. The flavor is very similar to that of broccoli, but slightly more bitter. It is also noticeably stronger than broccoli.

Broccolini is a hybrid between broccoli and gai lan.[3]

Gai lan can be sown in late summer for early-winter harvesting. Seedlings planted in autumn will last all winter.[citation needed] As with other plants, gai lan should be harvested and consumed just as white flowers start to bloom as the stems can become woody and tough when the plant bolts.