Type
variegated, open head
Radicchio variety
Castelfranco Radicchio
Castelfranco is prized for its creamy leaves splashed with red rather than the deep solid red of typical radicchio. It is one of the prettiest chicories for cool-season gardens.
Days to maturity
80-95
Best for
specialty salads, ornamental edible beds
About Castelfranco
Castelfranco is the ornamental radicchio often called the edible flower, forming a loose, open rosette of creamy pale-green to yellow leaves speckled and streaked with wine-red flecks. It is a traditional Italian variegated chicory, milder and less bitter than the red heading types, with a delicate crunch. Its pale interior coloring develops best when shielded from light.
Growing Castelfranco Radicchio
Grow it as a fall crop, sowing in summer and spacing about 10 to 12 inches apart to give the open heads room. Cold weather intensifies the red speckling, and some growers tie or cover the plants to blanch and lighten the centers. Harvest when the loose head has filled out, and handle it gently since the tender leaves bruise more easily than firm red types.
Full growing guide
For planting dates, care, and harvest that apply to all radicchio, see the complete guide.
How to grow RadicchioOther radicchio varieties
Variety characteristics are general guidance for US home gardens; performance varies by climate, soil, and season. Seed and plant availability differs by supplier. Page updated Aug 4, 2026.