During the Fall of 1993, four commercial growth retardants (B-nine, Cycocel, A-rest and Bonzi) were compared for their effectiveness in controlling the growth and development of three ornamental cabbage cultivars (white, red and pink) and two flowering ornamental kale cultivars (frizzy red and red peacock). Two weeks after transplanting; seedling of each cultivar were sprayed with aqueous solutions of the four commercial growth retardants. Treatments for each cultivar were arranged in a randomized complete block design with 6 replications. Plant height, plant width and dry weight were the parameters used to measure growth and development. Results showed that all the growth retardants except for cycocel significantly affected growth and development without any effect on head formation and color development. Bonzi caused the greatest growth suppression.