What hardiness zones is Beta vulgaris 'Bright Lights' suitable for?

Beta vulgaris 'Bright Lights' is suitable for USDA hardiness zones 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9.

What are the sun requirements for Beta vulgaris 'Bright Lights'?

Beta vulgaris 'Bright Lights' requires Full Sun.

How much water does Beta vulgaris 'Bright Lights' need?

Beta vulgaris 'Bright Lights' has Medium water needs.

Vegetables

Beta vulgaris 'Bright Lights'

Bright Lights Swiss Chard

Amaranthaceae

Cultivar of garden origin (species native to Mediterranean coast)

At a Glance

TypeBiennial

HabitUpright

FoliageDeciduous

Height18-24 inches (45-60 cm)

Width12-18 inches (30-45 cm)

Growing Zones

USDA Hardiness Zones

2 - 9

Zone 2

Zone 3

Zone 4

Zone 5

Zone 6

Zone 7

Zone 8

Zone 9

These zones indicate the coldest temperatures this plant can typically survive.

Frost Tolerancehardy

Key Features

Container Friendly

Maintenancelow

Overview

Beta vulgaris 'Bright Lights' is an upright, clump-forming biennial (grown as an annual) in the amaranth family (Amaranthaceae) reaching 18–24 inches (45–60 cm) tall with a 12–18 inch (30–45 cm) spread. This cultivar produces a rosette of large, savoyed (crinkled) leaf blades, dark green to bronze, on thick, fleshy petioles (stems) in a mix of colors — yellow, gold, orange, red, pink, scarlet, purple, and white — with the color mix varying by seed lot and individual plant. Leaf blades are 8–12 inches (20–30 cm) long, oval to triangular, with prominent veining matching the stem color. Petioles are 0.5–1 inch (1–2.5 cm) wide, succulent, crunchy. Bolts to flower in the second year or prematurely in response to cold snaps followed by warm weather. An All-America Selections winner (1998). Harvested as baby leaves at 30 days or full-size leaves at 55–65 days. Heat-tolerant compared to spinach; provides greens through summer when lettuce and spinach bolt. A dual-purpose plant used in both vegetable gardens and ornamental plantings due to the colorful stems.

Native Range

The species Beta vulgaris is native to the Mediterranean coast and Atlantic Europe. 'Bright Lights' is a cultivar bred by John Navazio at Alf Christianson Seed Company, selected for multicolored stems from Beta vulgaris var. cicla (chard group). An All-America Selections winner in 1998.

Suggested Uses

Planted in vegetable gardens, salad gardens, edible landscaping, and ornamental borders. The multicolored stems make 'Bright Lights' a standard edible ornamental for mixed beds. Container-grown on balconies and patios in 3+ gallon pots. Leaves and stems are cooked as greens (sautéed, braised, in soups); young leaves are used raw in salads. Included in soil-building and cover crop rotations as a quick-growing leafy crop between cover crop plantings.

How to Identify

Identified by the multicolored stems (yellow, orange, red, pink, purple, white) with dark green to bronze savoyed leaf blades — no other common chard cultivar has this full color range. Distinguished from 'Fordhook Giant' (white stems, large dark green leaves) by the multicolored stems. Distinguished from beet (Beta vulgaris var. vulgaris) by the thin, fibrous root (versus swollen beet root) and the large, thick petioles grown for foliage harvest rather than root harvest.

Appearance

Size & Dimensions

Height1'6" - 2'

Width/Spread1' - 1'6"

Colors

Flower Colors

green

Foliage Colors

green

red

orange

yellow

pink

purple

white

Fall Foliage Colors

no change

Bloom Information

Bloom Period

~3 weeks

Summer

Bolts in the second year or prematurely if exposed to temperatures below 50°F (10°C) for 2+ weeks followed by warm weather (vernalization response). Flowers are small, greenish, in tall branching spikes — remove bolting stems promptly to extend leaf harvest. In the Pacific Northwest, premature bolting can occur from early spring cold snaps.

Detailed Descriptions

Flower Description

Greenish (second year only)

Foliage Description

Dark green to bronze savoyed (crinkled) blades on stems (petioles) in a mix of yellow, orange, red, pink, purple, and white

Growing Conditions

Sun Requirements

Full Sun

Partial Shade

Requires 4-10 hours of direct sunlight daily

• Full Sun: 6+ hours of direct sunlight

• Partial Shade: 3-6 hours of direct sunlight

• Full Shade: Less than 3 hours of direct sunlight

Soil Requirements

pH Range6.0 - 7.5(Neutral)

357912

Soil Types

loamsiltclay

Drainage

moist

Water & Climate

Water Needs

Medium

Frost Tolerance

hardy

Care & Maintenance

Care Guide

Direct sow seeds 0.5 inch (1 cm) deep, 2–4 weeks before the last frost date, spacing 12 inches (30 cm) apart in rows 18 inches (45 cm) apart. Each chard 'seed' is a cluster of 2–4 seeds; thin to one plant per station. Successive sowings every 3 weeks extend the harvest. Harvest outer leaves at the base when 8–12 inches (20–30 cm) tall, leaving the growing center to produce new leaves. In the Pacific Northwest, chard produces from late spring through fall and often overwinters in mild years. Provide consistent moisture; drought stress toughens the leaves and triggers premature bolting. Suitable for containers of 3+ gallons.

Pruning

Harvest outer leaves at the base, leaving the growing center intact. Remove any flower stalks promptly to redirect energy to leaf production. In fall, remove frost-damaged outer leaves to maintain the plant through mild Pacific Northwest winters.

Maintenance Level

low

Container Growing

✓ Suitable for container growing

Minimum container size: 3 gallons

⚠️ Toxicity Warning

Non-toxic

Planting Guide

Planting Methods & Timing

Planting Method

both

Indoor Start

4 weeks before last frost

Direct Sow Timing

2-4 weeks before last frost; successive sowings every 3 weeks through midsummer

Days to Maturity

55–65 days

Plant Spacing

12 inches

Companion Planting

Good Companions

tomato

bean

onion

lettuce

Avoid Planting With

corn

potato