Promising Plants Profiles

Crambe maritima

Genus: Crambe
Specific Epithet: maritima
Common Name: sea kale
Family: Brassicaceae

Flower Color: white
Form: mound-forming herbaceous perennial
Hardiness Zone: 6-9
Height: 30''
Width: 24''
Soil: well-drained, neutral to alkaline soil
Sun: full sun

Uses: culinary, ornamental
Parts Used: leafstalks and young leaves

"If you want dramatic contrast and distinctive texture in the garden, then Crambe maritima is a good choice. This is a mound-forming herbaceous perennial, 30 inches high by 24 inches wide, with very bold foliage. It has a spreading woody rootstock similar to horseradish. Early in spring, purple tinted stems emerge from which unfurl large, thick, bluish-green, fleshy leaves with wavy, ruffled edges. In May, branched panicles of small white, slightly scented flowers appear, followed by spongy fruits which are able to float in sea water without damage to the seed.

A native of northern and western Europe, including the British Isles, sea kale is found along the seashores on well-drained, sunny, sandy or shingle banks. In the wild, the fruiting stems tend to break off and be blown away like tumbleweed for seed dispersal. It is ideal for a seaside garden as it is able to withstand salt spray conditions. As a garden plant, it prefers neutral to alkaline soil, and is drought resistant. Sea kale is often grown as a vegetable. The emerging shoots are blanched by covering the plant with a forcing pot and are even better tasting than asparagus spears, according to the Irish plantswoman, Helen Dillon. (This is further confirmed by our own HSA member, Deni Bown, who attests that sea kale has the advantage of being available at least a month earlier than asparagus in the UK.)

Garden pests are the occasional slug and cabbage moth. Being a member of the cabbage family, Brassicaceae, it can also suffer from clubroot. Sea kale propagates easily from division or root cuttings in winter and is hardy in Zones 6-9. It can also be grown from seed." – Andrew Van Hevelingen, Promising Plants Presentation, 2005

Seed Source: Jelitto Perennial Seeds – Louisville, KY

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