Description

Sea-kale is a long-lived spreading herbaceous perennial with a fleshy taproot. It has handsome spreading grey foliage and a frothy panicle of scented white flowers in summer. It grows up to 1 metre spread and the flower stalk extends 40-90cms. The emerging foliage can be eaten in spring if covered with a clay pot & forced as you would rhubarb. Don’t be too greedy or you will sacrifice the flowers.

It is both one of the most handsome plants one can grow in the garden and also one of the most delicate early spring vegetables. This has been the downfall of Sea-kale because having been successfully introduced to Covent Garden as a vegetable in 1795 it is now quite rare in the wild.

Habitat Information

Sea-kale is a plant of the seashore. It can rarely be seen around the coast of Great Britain, particularly the South and South East coast on shingle banks or on sand over shingle.

Growing Information

Established form seed sown in the autumn or spring. The soil should be free draining to prevent the crown from rotting off in winter (although it often appears to regrow again from the roots).