Brassica pekinensis — Chinese (napa) cabbage
Brassica pekinensis is the botanical name for napa or Peking cabbage, the heading type of Chinese cabbage grown for its dense, crisp, pale barrels of crinkled leaves. Botanically it is a form of Brassica rapa, and it is one of the cornerstones of our Asian greens range.
History & origin
Napa cabbage was developed in China, where heading Chinese cabbages have been grown for well over a thousand years, arising from crosses among the leafy and turnip forms of Brassica rapa. It became a staple across East Asia — the foundation of Korean kimchi and a mainstay of Chinese and Japanese kitchens — and reached the West relatively recently, where it is now widely grown for autumn salads and stir-fries. The name pekinensis means "of Peking" (Beijing), marking its Chinese origin, while Brassica is simply the Latin for cabbage.
Botanical characteristics
This is a fast biennial grown as an annual that forms a tight, upright head of pale, thin-veined leaves with broad white midribs and a mild, sweet, slightly peppery flavour quite unlike European cabbage. Heads may be tall and cylindrical or shorter and barrel-shaped. It is highly sensitive to day length and temperature: long days and cold snaps push it to bolt, so timing is everything, and it crops fast when conditions suit. It belongs naturally among our cabbage vegetables.
Growing Brassica pekinensis from seed
Napa cabbage is best grown as an autumn crop. Sow from midsummer onwards, when shortening days discourage bolting, either direct or in modules transplanted with care to avoid a check. Give it rich, moisture-retentive soil and steady watering for fast, solid hearts, and net against cabbage pests. Spring sowings need bolt-resistant varieties and warmth. Our vegetable growing guide covers the basics, and the vegetable sowing calendar shows the windows.
Ready for crisp, sweet hearts for slaw and kimchi? Browse the varieties below.
Related categories: Chinese Cabbage · Asian Greens · Cabbage Vegetables · Fresh Leafy Greens · All Vegetables
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Is Brassica pekinensis the same as Chinese cabbage?It is the heading, napa-type Chinese cabbage with dense pale barrels of leaves. The broader
Chinese cabbage group also includes loose-leaf types such as pak choi.
Why does napa cabbage bolt so easily?It is very sensitive to long days and cold. Spring sowings often run to flower, so the safest route is to sow from midsummer for an autumn harvest.
What is napa cabbage used for?Its crisp, sweet leaves are shredded raw for slaw and salads, stir-fried, braised, or fermented — most famously as the base of Korean kimchi.
How long does napa cabbage take to grow?It is fairly quick, with many varieties forming heads in roughly two to three months from sowing when grown in cool, settled autumn conditions.
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