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Sea Kale Crambe maritima 

 
 
Attracts BeesBees are attracted to this plant
Attracts FliesFlies are attracted to this plant
Perennial Life CyclePerennial life cycle
Cross-Shaped FlowersCross-shaped flowers
White FlowersWhite flowers
4 Petals4 petals
May-Jul Flowering
period
Lobed LeavesLobed leaves
Crinkly-Edged LeavesCrinkly-edged leaves
Round StemRound stem
Tap RootTap root
100cmMaximum height
 
 
  Main image of Sea Kale
© 2021 Adrian Briggs
 

Sea Kale is a native perennial plant of the UK, typically found growing in shingle beaches and coastal areas, to a mature height of up to 100cm.

Sea Kale is a salt-tolerant, greyish-green wavy-leaved plant bearing honey-scented clusters of white flowers. It was cultivated and eaten as a leafy vegetable by the Victorians. In more recent times, it has become popular as an ornamental garden plant.

Botanic classification and naming: Sea Kale is a member of the Cabbage (Brassicaceae) family. The genus name 'Crambe' identifies the plant as a Cabbage and its species name 'maritima' means 'coastal plant'.

Concerns: Note that unsupervised foraging may cause damage to wild plants and misidentification of forage species may be dangerous. The complete removal of a plant from the wild is illegal under the Wildlife and Countryside Act (1981).

Benefits: The sweet-scented flowers produce lots of nectar to attract pollinators.

Benefits to wildlife are also indicated with orange icons in the plant profile bar at the top.

 

 
Flower of Sea Kale

© 2021 Adrian Briggs

 

Flowers:
Sea Kale usually flowers between May and July.

Flower colour:

Flower Colour White

White

Flower shape:

Flower Shape  Cross

Cross

Petals:

Petal Number =  4

4

Leaf of Sea Kale

© 2021 Adrian Briggs

 

Leaves:

Leaf Shape:

Leaf Shape is Lobed

Lobed

Leaf Margins:

Leaf Margin is crinkly-edged

crinkly-edged

Stem of Sea Kale

© 2021 Adrian Briggs

 

Stem and Roots:

Stem shape:

Stem Shape is Round

Round

Root type:

Root Type is Tap

Tap