Leaf
Liliane Roubaudi, Tela Botanica · CC BY-SA 2.0
Sea kale
Crambe maritima L.
Family: Brassicaceae
50 to 80 cm tall
Seaside gardens, rock gardens, sandy, well-drained soils
Flowering: June – July
Full sun
Hardy to -15°C
❓ How do you recognise this plant?
Its young blanched shoots, forced in the dark, were a prized gourmet vegetable in Victorian England.
🍃 Leaves
Broad, fleshy, wavy, glaucous, in a large clump
🌸 Flowers
Small white flowers in large, airy clouds
🍎 Fruits
Small globular siliques
🪵 Bark
Large fleshy rootstock, deep root
🗺️ Distribution
Coasts of Europe (Atlantic, English Channel, Baltic); rare and protected on some shingle beaches in France.
🐝 Value for pollinators
Large white inflorescences, very rich in nectar, attractive to bees and various coastal insects.
✂️ Horticultural uses
Seaside gardens, dry gravel beds; large glaucous foliage, very decorative.
⚠️ Possible toxicity
No known toxicity, young shoots edible (similar to cabbage).
🌿 Other Brassicaceae to discover
ℹ️ Educational profile — do not use it to judge whether a plant is edible or safe.
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