Types of Broccoli

With high nutritional value and culinary uses, broccoli is one of the most prized vegetables you can grow at home. In local grocery stores and farmers markets, broccoli varieties usually have large central heads and thick stalks. You may have encountered this cruciferous vegetable bagged and frozen as florets.

Planting your own broccoli gives you access to a wide variety of cultivars. From the common heading types to the lesser-known branching, there’s a broccoli that will fit your garden setup and kitchen needs.

Common Broccoli Types

Broccoli is a close relative to other leafy greens: Brussels sprouts, cabbage, cauliflower, kale, and others. Like its cousins, broccoli can be enjoyed raw or cooked. Incorporation of these vegetables in your daily meals can be done in many ways — boiled, grilled, steamed, roasted, or stir-fried. 

As studies suggest, broccoli is attributed to many nutritional benefits. It is an excellent source of antioxidants, minerals, and vitamins that alleviate oxidative stress from free radicals. The flowering heads and stalks of broccoli can boost your digestive health due to the dietary fiber content. Furthermore, broccoli florets are packed with bioactive compounds such as sulforaphane and quercetin, that are known for their anti-inflammatory properties.

Read on for an extensive look at the different types of broccoli.

Heirloom and Hybrid Broccoli

Di Cicco, Green Sprouting Calabrese, Spring Rapini, and Waltham 29 are some of the most popular heirloom varieties of broccoli. To be considered heirloom, the variety should be free from crossbreeding for at least 40 to 50 years.

As a result, you get a true-to-seed variety with similar traits as the parent plant. Many heirloom varieties survive through generations by being passed down among ethnic, familial, or any social organization in a geographic region. They are maintained through seed saving and are sowed accordingly.

However, heirloom varieties tend to be disease- and pest-prone. Through manual cross-breeding, hybrid varieties can be made hardier and more resistant to these issues. This innovation mingles two varieties, bestowing the hybrid with favorable traits. Improvements in flavor, texture, and yield are also possible among hybrid varieties.

Due to these enhancements, hybrid varieties are highly valuable to the commercial production of broccoli. Examples of hybrid varieties include Burgundy, Destiny Hybrid, Fiesta, Gemini, Millennium, and Monflor.

Broccoli, Broccolini®, Broccoli Rabe, and Chinese Broccoli

There are technical nuances when it comes to broccoli. Some seed markets and grocery stores treat other species as alternatives to broccoli due to similarities. 

Broccoli (Brassica oleracea var. italica) has a compact central head composed of tree-like florets with a fibrous stem.

Broccolini® (known as Aspabroc, baby broccoli, or Tenderstem® broccoli) is a hybrid species between broccoli and Chinese broccoli. It is a registered trademark of Mann Packing and has smaller florets and thinner stems compared to other types.

On the other hand, broccoli raab, rabe, or rapini (Brassica rapa) is not botanically a broccoli type, but closely related to turnips. In terms of appearance, rapini looks far different from the classic broccoli. It is leafier with minimal florets and tender stems, which are all edible. 

Consumed popularly in China and other Asian countries, the Chinese broccoli is another leafy vegetable, belonging to the same family as broccoli. However, it falls under the Alboglabra cultivar group. It has delicate florets, glossy green leaves, and fibrous stalks that gradually become woodier. Other names for this type include Chinese kale, Gai lan, and Kai-lan.

Other Popular Broccoli Groupings

To be clear, we’ve included different varieties of Broccolini®, broccoli rabe, and Chinese broccoli below, in addition to the classic broccoli. 

Types of Broccoli Colors

Broccoli florets come in two primary colors — green and purple. Broccoli varieties tend to have varying shades of both colors.

Broccoli Colors	Common Examples (Where to Buy)
Green Broccolis	Belstar (Territorial Seed Company) Calabrese Green Sprouting (Eden Brothers, True Leaf Market, Rare Seeds) Emerald Crown (Territorial Seed Company) Gypsy (Territorial Seed Company) Millennium (Territorial Seed Company) Waltham 29 (Eden Brothers, True Leaf Market, Rare Seeds)
Purple Broccolis	Burgundy (Territorial Seed Company) Early Purple Sprouting (Rare Seeds) Jacaranda (Territorial Seed Company) Purple Sprouting (Eden Brothers, Territorial Seed Company) Rudolph (Territorial Seed Company) Santee (Territorial Seed Company)

Types of Broccoli Flavors

Some broccoli varieties taste more robust and vegetal than others. 

Broccoli Flavors	Common Examples (Where to Buy)
Earthy/Nutty Broccolis	Early Fall Rapini (True Leaf Market) Purple Sprouting (Eden Brothers, Territorial Seed Company) Ramoso Santana (True Leaf Market) Romanesco (Eden Brothers, True Leaf Market) Spring Rapini (True Leaf Market, Rare Seeds)
Mild/Sweet Broccolis	Calabrese Green Sprouting (Eden Brothers, True Leaf Market, Rare Seeds) Destiny Hybrid (True Leaf Market)  Di Cicco (Eden Brothers, True Leaf Market) Monflor (Territorial Seed Company) Waltham 29 (Eden Brothers, True Leaf Market, Rare Seeds)

Types of Broccoli Textures

The inclusion of broccoli will provide extra crunch to your meals. 

Broccoli Textures	Common Examples (Where to Buy)
Crisp Broccolis	Calabrese Green Sprouting (Eden Brothers, True Leaf Market, Rare Seeds) Destiny Hybrid (True Leaf Market)  Di Cicco (Eden Brothers, True Leaf Market) Waltham 29 (Eden Brothers, True Leaf Market, Rare Seeds) Wan Shen (True Leaf Market)
Tender Broccolis	Apollo (Territorial Seed Company) Aspabroc (Territorial Seed Company) Burgundy (Territorial Seed Company) Jacaranda (Territorial Seed Company) Monflor (Territorial Seed Company)

Types of Geographic Origins

Broccoli is believed to be a result of Brassica breeding in the north Mediterranean. Later, the broccoli plant reached North America due to Italian migration.

Geographic Origins	Common Examples (Where to Buy)
European and Mediterranean Broccolis	Calabrese Green Sprouting (Eden Brothers, True Leaf Market, Rare Seeds) Early Purple Sprouting (Rare Seeds) Emerald Crown (Territorial Seed Company) Natalina Di Fasano Cima Grande (Rare Seeds) Ramoso Santana (True Leaf Market)
Central, North, and South American Broccolis	Jacaranda (Territorial Seed Company) Umpqua (Territorial Seed Company) Waltham 29 (Eden Brothers, True Leaf Market, Rare Seeds)
Asian Broccolis	Big Stem (True Leaf Market) Early Jade (True Leaf Market) Kailaan (True Leaf Market) Suiho (True Leaf Market)

Types of Geographic Origins

Broccoli can be an appetizing side dish. You simply blanche the chopped florets in plain water, or stir-fry them in your choice of seasonings. 

Culinary Uses	Common Examples (Where to Buy)
Broccolis for Boiling/Steaming	Big Stem (True Leaf Market) Calabrese Green Sprouting (Eden Brothers, True Leaf Market, Rare Seeds) Destiny Hybrid (True Leaf Market) Kailaan (True Leaf Market) Waltham 29 (Eden Brothers, True Leaf Market, Rare Seeds)
Broccolis for Sauté/Stir-fry	Early Jade (True Leaf Market) Emerald Crown (Territorial Seed Company) Natalina Di Fasano Cima Grande (Rare Seeds) Sorrento or Sorrento Raab (Territorial Seed Company, True Leaf Market) Suiho (True Leaf Market)

Types of Disease Resistance

Downy mildew and rot are common problems when it comes to growing broccoli at home. All broccoli varieties have varying degrees of resistance to these diseases.

Disease Resistance	Common Examples (Where to Buy)
Disease-Resistant Varieties	Belstar (Territorial Seed Company) Emerald Crown (Territorial Seed Company) Gypsy (Territorial Seed Company) Late Jade (True Leaf Market) Santee (Territorial Seed Company)
Susceptible Varieties	Spring Rapini (True Leaf Market, Rare Seeds)

Types of Preferred Growing Conditions

Broccoli is a cool-season plant, thriving primarily in well-drained soil. Beets, celery, cucumber, dill, leeks, lettuce, potatoes, radish, and spinach are some of the best companion plants for broccoli.

Preferred Growing Conditions	Common Examples (Where to Buy)
Container Broccolis	Di Cicco (Eden Brothers, True Leaf Market) Early Purple Sprouting (Rare Seeds) Purple Sprouting (Eden Brothers, Territorial Seed Company) Sorrento or Sorrento Raab (Territorial Seed Company, True Leaf Market) Spring Rapini (True Leaf Market, Rare Seeds)
Field Green Broccolis	Gemini (Territorial Seed Company)  Millennium (Territorial Seed Company) Sequoia (Territorial Seed Company)
Greenhouse Broccolis	Belstar (Territorial Seed Company) Calabrese Green Sprouting (Eden Brothers, True Leaf Market, Rare Seeds) Early Purple Sprouting (Rare Seeds) Fiesta (Territorial Seed Company) Gypsy (Territorial Seed Company)

Popular Varieties of Heading-Type Broccoli

Heading-type broccoli varieties are characterized by a primary central head where compact florets grow. When chopped, the florets give a miniature tree-like appearance.

Variety	Description	Plant Height	Days to Maturity	Where to Buy
Belstar	Belstar is a hybrid broccoli variety that can tolerate cool and warm temperatures. Under ideal conditions, it yields a densely packed central head with blue green florets, ready for summer and fall harvest.	15 to 23 inches	66 to 75 days	Territorial Seed Company
Calabrese Green Sprouting	Calabrese Green Sprouting is an excellent slow-bolting broccoli, and a wonderful cool-weather crop, growing a central head of at least 3 to 8 inches in diameter.	20 to 30 inches	60 to 90 days	Eden Brothers, True Leaf Market, Rare Seeds
Destiny Hybrid	More heat tolerant than others, the Destiny Hybrid variety has medium to small beads in a crisp green head. Enjoy the florets in salads or cook them in a hearty stir-fry. This variety thrives well in areas under the hardiness zone of 7 to 11.	24 to 30 inches	70 to 75 days	True Leaf Market
Di Cicco	First introduced in 1890, this popular Italian heirloom has a high-yielding capacity of robust cold-hardy green heads. Don’t be confused as this variety comes with various names, such as De Ciccio, De Cicco, Di Ciccio.	18 to 30 inches	48 to 70 days	Eden Brothers, True Leaf Market
Emerald Crown	Emerald Crown is a wonderful F1 or hybrid variety most suitable for early spring to late summer planting. Expect a sweet flavor with a slight vegetal taste from this broccoli.	16 to 20	60 to 70	Territorial Seed Company
Fiesta	Fiesta is a dependable hybrid broccoli, growing a tight 6- to 7-inch central head in a compact plant structure. It can withstand both cold and hot temperatures and maintain the uniform shape and size of its main head.	24 to 30 inches	65 to 70 days	Territorial Seed Company
Gemini	A dual-season variety, Gemini forms a light green head at least 6 inches in diameter.	16 to 20 inches	50 to 55 days	Territorial Seed Company
Gypsy	Reliable even under the hot summer weather, the Gypsy variety forms green side shoots once the main head is harvested. This hybrid variety has intermediate resistance to downy mildew.	8 to inches	65 to 70 days	Territorial Seed Company
Millennium	Remarkably domed, the heads from the Millennium variety are comprised of dark green, small beads. Its upright plant structure, strong soil hold, and resilience to heat make this variety an excellent option for field planting.	24 to 30 inches	70 to 80 days	Territorial Seed Company
Monflor	Monflor has branching stems that form the central head, reaching about 7 to 8 inches in diameter. Due to this unique trait, Monflor is easier to chop, saving you some time in the kitchen.	16 to 20 inches	63 to 68 days	Territorial Seed Company
Waltham 29	Originally developed by the University of Massachusetts, this heirloom variety offers abundant yield, uniform quality, and potential repeat of harvest. You can plant Waltham 29 during spring or summer. In case your vegetable garden overproduces, you can freeze the florets for future use.	24 to 30 inches	85 to 90 days	Eden Brothers, True Leaf Market, Rare Seeds

Popular Varieties of Branching-Type Broccoli

Broccoli varieties without a central head fall under the branching type. Florets under this category tend to be sparse and small, scattered throughout the plant structure with prominent edible leaves.

Variety	Description	Plant Height	Days to Maturity	Where to Buy
Early Fall Rapini	Early Fall Rapini can be planted in all hardiness zones in the United States. You can sow the seeds in the early fall, or during spring and summer. This heirloom variety has a distinct mustard-like taste.	12 to 20 inches	50 to 55 days	True Leaf Market
Natalina Di Fasano Cima Grande	Natalina Di Fasano Cima Grande is a frosty-hardy variety that hails from the Puglia region in Italy. Its branching florets are commonly sautéed with garlic and olive oil.	24 to 36 inches	90 to 95 da	Rare Seeds
Sorrento or Sorrento Raab	If you’re looking for an early crop, Sorrento may be the best option for you. A quick-growing variety, this heirloom broccoli resists bolting during hot summer weather. Its flower buds, leaves, and stems are all edible, brimming with a delicious broccoli flavor.	24 to 30 inches	40 to 50 days	Territorial Seed Company, True Leaf Market
Spring Rapini	Spring Rapini is an early maturing variety that flourishes in cooler seasons. It can provide you with fresh buds and leaves for an extended period. Simply harvest the outer buds and leaves to encourage new growth.	24 to 30 inches	40 to 60 days	True Leaf Market, Rare Seeds

Other Popular Varieties of Broccoli

Can’t get enough? Check out other varieties below!

Popular Varieties of Chinese Broccoli

This popular Asian ingredient can be grown in your vegetable garden as a cool season crop. Chinese broccoli falls under the branching category.

Variety	Description	Growing Season	Days to Maturity	Where to Buy
Big Stem	Loaded with earthy flavors, Big Stem has broad dark green leaves with thick stalks. To get the most out of this variety, sow the seeds mid-summer and harvest in autumn.	12 to 18 inches	40 to 50 days	True Leaf Market
Early Jade	Early Jade is a slow-bolting variety with an early maturity rate and reliable yield. When blanched or sautéed, the mild bitterness in the buds, leaves, and stems decreases. In case the main stalk becomes woody, peel off the tough outer layer.	12 to 18 inches	40 to 50 days	True Leaf Market
Kailaan	Used in Asian recipes, the Kailaan produces flavorful leaves and stems, which can be tenderized through blanching or steaming. The leaves and stems tend to grow smaller as you continue harvesting the edible plant parts.	8 to 10 inches	60 to 70 days	True Leaf Market
Suiho	Ruffled emerald green leaves and crispy stems can be harvested from the Suiho variety. For a longer harvest period, plant the seeds in well-drained soil and trim the edible parts after 50 to 55 days. Smaller stems and leaves will regrow from the trimmed edges.	8 to 14 inches	50 to 55 days	True Leaf Market

FAQ About Types of Broccoli