Chou marin.

At a glance

Care level

Easy

Plant type

Perennial vegetable

Light

Full sun

Indoor light

Direct sun

Water

Every 7 to 14 days

Mature size

2 to 3 feet

Growth rate

Medium

Hardiness

USDA 5 to 9

Bloom time

Late spring to early summer

Care

Plant this in a sunny spot with well draining soil to keep it happy. Watch for slugs and snails that love to snack on the young leaves. Keep the area around the base clear of weeds to ensure good airflow.

Watering

Water deeply during dry spells to keep the roots hydrated.

Feeding

Apply a layer of compost or organic fertilizer in early spring.

Pruning

Remove dead or yellowing foliage in late autumn after the first frost.

Repotting

This plant prefers to stay in the ground, but if container grown, move to a larger pot every few years.

Soil

Sandy, well draining soil

Soil pH

Neutral to slightly alkaline

Temperature

-20 to 30°C

Humidity

40 to 70%

Drought tolerance

High

Lifespan

Perennial, typically 10 plus years

Fragrance

Light

Deer and rabbits

Moderate

Safety

People

This plant is not considered toxic to humans.

Children

The large leaves are sturdy but not dangerous, though children should be supervised to prevent trampling the crown.

Contact allergens

The leaves may cause minor skin irritation in sensitive individuals due to their slightly waxy texture.

Airborne allergens

There are no notable respiratory allergens associated with this plant.

Edibility

While young shoots are edible, they should only be harvested from sustainable populations and never from protected coastal sites.

How to identify it

• Wavy, thick, blue green leaves
• Large, fleshy, cabbage like foliage
• Clusters of small white flowers
• Deep, woody root system

Height

0.6 to 0.9m

Spread

0.6 to 0.9m

Leaves

blue-green, glaucous, deciduous

Flowers

white, 1 to 2cm

Fruit

green, brown, Late summer

Common problems

• Slugs and Snails — These mollusks frequently feed on the young, tender foliage in spring.
• Clubroot — A soilborne pathogen that causes stunted growth and swollen roots.

• Why are my sea kale leaves being eaten?
• Why is my sea kale looking stunted and weak?
• Why is my sea kale wilting?

Growing it

Propagation

seed, root cuttings

When to plant

spring, autumn

Overwintering

The foliage will die back naturally in winter. Simply clear away the dead leaves in late winter to make room for new growth.

In containers

It can grow in large containers, but its deep taproot requires a very deep pot of at least 50 centimeters.

Pair this plant with other drought tolerant coastal species to create a low maintenance garden bed.

Grows well with

• Sea Thrift — They share similar coastal environmental requirements.
• Lavender — Both appreciate well drained soil and full sun.

Similar species

• Crambe cordifolia — It is a much larger relative with similar white flowers.

Science

Family

Brassicaceae

Genus

Crambe

Order

Brassicales

Class

Magnoliopsida

Native range

Coastal regions of Europe and Western Asia.

Conservation

It is protected in some parts of its native range and should never be collected from the wild.

It is highly adapted to sandy, saline coastal environments where it uses its deep taproot to find moisture.

Value to wildlife

nectar source

Pollinators

bees, butterflies

Uses

ornamental foliage, culinary vegetable, coastal garden plant

Taxonomy resolved against GBIF.

Questions people ask

Does it need salt to grow?

No, it tolerates salt spray well but grows perfectly fine in standard garden soil.

How do I harvest it?

You can blanch the young spring shoots by covering the crown with a pot to exclude light.

Where the name comes from

Crambe is an ancient Greek name for cabbage, and maritima refers to its natural coastal habitat.

Good to know

• It is a member of the cabbage family.
• The leaves are naturally coated in a waxy bloom that helps them survive salt spray.
• It thrives in sandy, well-drained soils.

Also in

• Drought-tolerant plants