Mustard plants are some of the most versatile additions you can grow in your garden. Not only do they provide tender, peppery leaves and flavorful seeds perfect for cooking, but they also burst into bright, cheerful flowers that can light up your landscape. Mustard plants are fast-growing, pollinator-friendly, and easy to cultivate in both vegetable and ornamental beds. If you’re ready to enjoy a garden that’s as beautiful as it is bountiful, these 10 stunning mustard varieties are worth growing.
1. Southern Giant Curled Mustard
Southern Giant Curled is a classic American heirloom loved for its frilly, ruffled leaves and spicy flavor. The large, bright-green foliage adds texture to vegetable plots while providing a tangy, mustardy kick to salads and sautés. As it matures, this variety produces small yellow flowers that attract pollinators. Southern Giant Curled is cold-hardy, easy to grow, and thrives in full sun. It’s perfect for gardeners looking to combine culinary quality with visual interest in their edible landscapes.
2. Red Giant Mustard
Add a bold splash of color to your garden with Red Giant Mustard. This stunning variety features deep reddish-purple leaves with green veins and a strong, peppery flavor. In cool weather, its colors intensify, making it a striking addition to ornamental beds and veggie plots alike. The plant produces clusters of small, bright-yellow flowers that contrast beautifully with the rich foliage. Besides its beauty, Red Giant’s flavorful leaves are perfect for stir-fries, soups, and pickling.
3. Tendergreen Mustard
Known for its mild flavor and fast growth, Tendergreen Mustard is a favorite among gardeners seeking both tender greens and cheerful blooms. Its smooth, glossy, dark-green leaves are excellent in salads, sautés, and soups. As it matures, Tendergreen sends up spikes of tiny yellow flowers that attract bees and beneficial insects. It’s highly adaptable to different soil types and resistant to heat, making it ideal for both spring and fall plantings. This dual-purpose plant adds beauty and bounty to any space.
4. Mizuna Mustard
For a unique, Asian-inspired touch, grow Mizuna Mustard. This Japanese heirloom is known for its delicate, deeply serrated green leaves and mild, slightly peppery flavor. Mizuna grows quickly and tolerates both heat and cold, making it a reliable green in varied seasons. As it bolts, it produces small, bright-yellow flowers that bees and butterflies adore. Its elegant foliage pairs beautifully with other garden plants, and its tender leaves are delicious in salads, soups, and stir-fries.
5. Golden Frills Mustard
Golden Frills Mustard is a real showstopper in the garden with its bright, feathery, chartreuse-green leaves. This variety offers a sweet, mild mustard flavor that intensifies as it matures. Beyond its culinary uses, Golden Frills is valued for its ornamental quality its airy, lace-like foliage adds texture and color to garden beds. In early summer, it bursts into delicate yellow blossoms that brighten up any landscape and attract pollinators. It’s fast-growing, cold-tolerant, and perfect for edible borders.
6. Green Wave Mustard
For gardeners craving a bold taste and beautiful foliage, Green Wave Mustard is an excellent choice. This heirloom produces large, crinkled green leaves with intense, spicy flavor perfect for southern-style greens, pickling, or sautés. As it bolts, Green Wave produces pretty yellow flowers that create a striking contrast against its lush foliage. It’s heat-tolerant and known for its vigorous growth, making it a reliable pick for late spring and early summer gardens.
7. Osaka Purple Mustard
Add drama to your garden with Osaka Purple Mustard, a striking variety with broad, deep-purple leaves that soften to green near the base. The leaves have a sharp, wasabi-like flavor when young, mellowing as they mature. As it bolts, the plant sends up tall stems adorned with small yellow flowers that beautifully complement the purple foliage. It’s cold-hardy, fast-growing, and ideal for garden beds, ornamental borders, or container displays where food and flowers mingle effortlessly.
8. Ruby Streaks Mustard
Ruby Streaks Mustard is a visually stunning variety featuring finely serrated leaves with a deep burgundy to purple hue. It offers a mildly spicy flavor and is excellent for adding color and zest to salads or stir-fries. This mustard is known for its ornamental value, with its foliage providing texture and contrast in mixed beds. As it flowers, Ruby Streaks produces charming yellow blossoms that attract pollinators. It’s cold-tolerant and grows quickly, making it perfect for spring and fall gardens.
9. Giant Red Mustard
Not to be confused with Red Giant, Giant Red Mustard boasts even larger, richly colored leaves with bold flavor. Its striking maroon foliage, accented with green undersides, creates an eye-catching effect in any edible or ornamental bed. The leaves grow tender and spicy, and when allowed to flower, this mustard produces bright-yellow blooms that add seasonal cheer. It thrives in cooler temperatures and can handle light frosts, making it a reliable staple for multi-season gardens.
10. Florida Broadleaf Mustard
Florida Broadleaf Mustard is a Southern classic with large, smooth, bright-green leaves known for their mild, tangy flavor. It’s a fast-growing variety ideal for gardeners who enjoy fresh greens and want to fill space in both food and flower gardens. As it matures, it produces airy clusters of yellow flowers that draw pollinators and beneficial insects. Florida Broadleaf is easy to grow, highly productive, and perfect for continuous harvesting throughout the cool seasons.