Choosing the Right Brussels Sprout Variety

Not all Brussels sprouts are created equal. The variety you plant determines everything — the size and flavor of the sprouts, how long they take to mature, how well they handle heat or cold, and whether they resist the diseases common in your area. Choose well, and you get tight, sweet sprouts with minimal effort. Choose poorly, and you spend four months nursing a plant that produces loose, bitter buttons.

There are dozens of Brussels sprout varieties available to home gardeners, and the list grows every year as breeders develop new hybrids. This guide covers the major cultivars, organized by their key characteristics, so you can match the right variety to your garden, your climate, and your dinner plate.

If you’re new to growing Brussels sprouts and need the full picture on planting, care, and harvest, start with our how to grow Brussels sprouts guide and come back here to pick your variety.

Understanding Variety Types

Before diving into specific cultivars, two important distinctions.

Open-pollinated vs. hybrid. Open-pollinated varieties (also called heirloom) produce seeds that grow true to the parent plant. You can save seeds and replant year after year. Hybrids (marked F1) are crosses between two parent lines that produce superior plants — often with better disease resistance, uniformity, and yield — but their seeds won’t breed true. Most modern Brussels sprout varieties are F1 hybrids.

Early, mid-season, and late varieties. Brussels sprouts are classified by their days to maturity, measured from transplant to harvest. Early varieties mature in 80 to 100 days. Mid-season varieties need 100 to 120 days. Late varieties require 120 to 180 days. In short-season climates (zones 3 to 5), you need early or mid-season types. In long-season areas (zones 6 to 8), you have more options.

Early-Season Varieties (80-100 Days)

Jade Cross

Days to maturity: 85 to 95 Sprout size: 1 to 1.5 inches Type: F1 hybrid

Jade Cross is the variety that changed everything. Developed in the 1950s by plant breeder Dr. Albert Yaeger, it won the All-America Selections award in 1959 — the first Brussels sprout to earn that distinction. Jade Cross was bred specifically for the American market, with improved tolerance for heat and a more compact plant habit than traditional European varieties.

The sprouts are medium-sized, firm, and dark green. Flavor is mild and sweet, especially after frost. The plants are relatively short (20 to 24 inches), which means they resist wind damage better than taller varieties. Jade Cross also produces a concentrated harvest, with most sprouts maturing within a narrow window — useful if you want to pick and process them all at once rather than harvesting over weeks.

Jade Cross E is an improved version with even better disease resistance and slightly larger sprouts. If you see both at the garden center, go with Jade Cross E.

Best for: Beginners. Short-season climates. Gardeners who want reliability over novelty.

Dimitri

Days to maturity: 85 to 90 Sprout size: 1 to 1.5 inches Type: F1 hybrid

One of the fastest-maturing Brussels sprout varieties available. Dimitri produces smooth, round, dark green sprouts with a mild, nutty flavor. The plants are compact and well-suited to container growing — if you’ve read our guide to growing Brussels sprouts in containers, Dimitri is one of the best variety choices for that approach.

Disease resistance is good, particularly against powdery mildew. The trade-off is yield — Dimitri produces fewer sprouts per stalk than larger, slower-maturing varieties. But for gardeners in zones 3 to 5 where the growing season is tight, getting any harvest at all is the priority, and Dimitri delivers.

Best for: Short-season gardens. Container growing. Getting sprouts on the table as early as possible.

Dagan

Days to maturity: 90 to 100 Sprout size: 1 to 1.5 inches Type: F1 hybrid

A relatively new variety that’s gaining popularity with home gardeners. Dagan produces very uniform, tight sprouts on a compact plant. It has excellent holding ability — meaning the sprouts stay firm on the stalk for weeks after maturing, giving you a flexible harvest window. It doesn’t demand that you pick on a specific day or lose quality.

Flavor is clean and sweet with minimal bitterness, even before frost. Good resistance to fusarium wilt, which is a significant advantage in areas where that soil-borne disease is present.

Best for: Gardeners who want flexibility in harvest timing. Areas with fusarium pressure.

Mid-Season Varieties (100-120 Days)

Long Island Improved

Days to maturity: 100 to 115 Sprout size: 1 to 1.5 inches Type: Open-pollinated (heirloom)

The classic American Brussels sprout, grown continuously since the 1890s. Long Island Improved is the variety your great-grandparents planted, and it remains widely available today. The sprouts are medium-sized, fairly tight, and have a stronger, more traditional Brussels sprout flavor than modern hybrids — meaning more of the sulfurous, cabbage-like notes that older varieties are known for.

The plants are tall (24 to 30 inches) and productive. As an open-pollinated variety, you can save seeds from year to year, which appeals to heirloom gardeners and seed savers. The downside is less uniformity than hybrids — sprout size varies more along the stalk, and the plants are more susceptible to diseases like clubroot and downy mildew.

Long Island Improved is also sometimes sold as “Catskill” or “Long Island.” These are essentially the same variety with minor regional selections.

Best for: Seed savers. Gardeners who prefer heirloom varieties. Those who enjoy a more robust, traditional sprout flavor.

Gustus

Days to maturity: 105 to 110 Sprout size: 1 to 1.5 inches Type: F1 hybrid

Gustus was bred with one goal in mind: taste. It’s one of the sweetest, mildest Brussels sprout varieties available, with very low glucosinolate levels (the compounds responsible for bitterness). If you or your family members claim to dislike Brussels sprouts, Gustus is the variety most likely to change minds.

The sprouts are smooth, round, and bright green. Plants are medium-height with good stem strength. Disease resistance is moderate — not as bulletproof as some of the newer hybrids, but adequate for most home gardens.

Gustus is a favorite of European growers and is increasingly available in North American seed catalogs. It’s an excellent choice for roasting, where the natural sweetness caramelizes beautifully.

Best for: Picky eaters. Anyone who wants the sweetest possible sprout. Roasting.

Diablo

Days to maturity: 110 to 120 Sprout size: 1.5 to 2 inches Type: F1 hybrid

Diablo is a professional grower’s variety that has crossed over to the home garden market. It produces large, very uniform sprouts with excellent density — they feel heavy and solid when you pick them. The flavor is sweet and nutty with a slight peppery finish.

Plants are tall and robust, reaching 30 to 36 inches. They need staking in windy areas. Diablo handles cold weather exceptionally well and is one of the best choices for harvesting well into winter. The sprouts actually improve with repeated frost exposure, becoming sweeter and more complex.

Disease resistance is strong across the board, including good tolerance for white blister and ring spot.

Best for: Gardeners who want large, impressive sprouts. Winter harvesting. Areas with cold, wet falls.

Nautic

Days to maturity: 105 to 115 Sprout size: 1 to 1.5 inches Type: F1 hybrid

Nautic is a workhorse variety — reliable, consistent, and easy to grow. It’s not flashy, but it produces a solid harvest of medium-sized, tight sprouts with good flavor year after year. Plants have excellent standing ability and rarely need staking.

What sets Nautic apart is its adaptability. It performs well across a wide range of climates and soil types, making it a safe choice if you’re not sure which variety to try. Disease resistance is above average, and the sprouts hold well on the stalk without opening up or becoming puffy.

Best for: Gardeners who want a dependable, no-surprises variety. Diverse growing conditions.

Late-Season Varieties (120-180 Days)

Bosworth

Days to maturity: 130 to 150 Sprout size: 1 to 1.5 inches Type: F1 hybrid

A true late-season variety designed for harvesting from November through February. Bosworth produces very firm, dark green sprouts with excellent cold tolerance. The plants are tall and produce heavily — expect 50 to 80 sprouts per stalk under good conditions.

The flavor improves dramatically after hard frost. If you can leave Bosworth in the ground through a few freezes, the sprouts develop a remarkable sweetness that early varieties can’t match. This is the variety to grow if you want Brussels sprouts for Christmas dinner straight from the garden.

The long maturity period means you need to start seeds indoors in spring and transplant early. In zones 7 and above, Bosworth may struggle — it needs cool fall temperatures to develop properly.

Best for: Winter harvest. Christmas dinner. Long-season cool climates.

Darkmar 21

Days to maturity: 120 to 140 Sprout size: 1 to 1.5 inches Type: Open-pollinated

An old British variety, dating to the early 20th century. Darkmar 21 produces small, very dark green sprouts with exceptional flavor — sweet, nutty, and complex. The plants are tall and vigorous, reaching 36 inches or more.

As an open-pollinated variety, Darkmar 21 shows more variation than hybrids. Some sprouts will be tighter than others, and sizes vary along the stalk. But the flavor is outstanding, and many heirloom enthusiasts consider it the best-tasting Brussels sprout available.

Best for: Flavor chasers. Heirloom collectors. British allotment gardeners.

Specialty Varieties

Rubine (Red Brussels Sprouts)

Days to maturity: 105 to 120 Sprout size: 1 to 1.5 inches Type: Open-pollinated

Rubine produces deep purple-red sprouts that are visually stunning on the plate. The color comes from anthocyanins, the same antioxidant pigments found in red cabbage and blueberries. Flavor is slightly stronger and nuttier than green varieties, with a hint of earthiness.

The trade-off: Rubine is less productive than most green varieties, and the sprouts are sometimes looser. The color fades with prolonged cooking — roast them quickly at high heat to preserve the purple hue, or serve them raw in salads. Our shaved Brussels sprout salad works beautifully with a mix of green and red sprouts.

Best for: Visual impact. Salads and light roasting. Gardeners who want something different.

Redarling

Days to maturity: 100 to 110 Sprout size: 1 to 1.5 inches Type: F1 hybrid

A newer red/purple hybrid that addresses many of Rubine’s weaknesses. Redarling produces tighter, more uniform sprouts with better yield. The color is a rich purple-red that holds up slightly better during cooking. Flavor is milder than Rubine, with less of the strong cabbage character.

Best for: Gardeners who want red sprouts without sacrificing quality.

Falstaff

Days to maturity: 100 to 110 Sprout size: 1 to 1.5 inches Type: Open-pollinated

Another purple variety, Falstaff sits somewhere between Rubine and green varieties in terms of color intensity. The outer leaves are purple-red, while the interior is green with purple streaks. Flavor is mild and sweet. More productive and uniform than Rubine but less intensely colored.

Best for: A compromise between novelty and reliability.

How to Choose: A Quick Decision Framework

Your growing season is short (under 100 days from transplant to first hard freeze): Jade Cross, Dimitri, or Dagan.

You want the sweetest, mildest sprouts: Gustus.

You’re new to growing Brussels sprouts: Jade Cross E or Nautic.

You want to save seeds: Long Island Improved or Darkmar 21.

You want large, impressive sprouts: Diablo.

You want fresh sprouts for Christmas: Bosworth or Darkmar 21.

You want something visually striking: Rubine, Redarling, or Falstaff.

You’re growing in containers: Dimitri or Jade Cross (compact habit).

Where to Buy

Most major seed companies carry at least Jade Cross and Long Island Improved. For the full range of varieties, look to specialty suppliers like Johnny’s Selected Seeds, Territorial Seed Company, Bejo Seeds, and Thompson & Morgan (for British varieties). Start seeds indoors 12 to 16 weeks before your last expected frost date, or buy transplants from local nurseries in spring.

Whichever variety you choose, the fundamentals of growing remain the same: full sun, rich soil, consistent moisture, and patience. Brussels sprouts reward gardeners who plan ahead and let the plants take their time. For a complete walkthrough of the growing process, see our how to grow Brussels sprouts guide.