Crambe maritima 'Lilywhite'
sea kale 'Lilywhite'
A versatile, robust perennial about 60-75cm tall, grown for the edible shoots, which are usually blanched for several weeks before harvesting. The young wavy-edged blue-green leaves are also edible and used as a cooked vegetable, and young flowering shoots bearing small white flowers, are cooked like sprouting broccoli
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Size
Ultimate height
0.5–1 metresTime to ultimate height
2–5 yearsUltimate spread
0.1–0.5 metresGrowing conditions
Moisture
Well–drainedpH
Acid, Alkaline, NeutralColour & scent
| Stem | Flower | Foliage | Fruit | |
| Spring | Green | Blue Green | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Summer | White | Blue Green | ||
| Autumn | ||||
| Winter |
Position
- Full sun
- Partial shade
Aspect
South–facing or West–facing or East–facing
Exposure
Sheltered Hardiness
H7Botanical details
- Family
- Brassicaceae
- Native to GB / Ireland
- No
- Foliage
- Deciduous
- Habit
- Clump forming
- Genus
Crambe are robust annuals and perennials with large, simple or divided leaves and racemes or large panicles of small, fragrant white flowers
- Name status
Accepted
How to grow
Cultivation
Ideally grow in fertile, well-drained soil in full sun although it will tolerate poor soil and partial shade. Provide shelter from strong winds; young shoots, leaves and flowering shoots are edible and can be used as a cooked vegetable
Propagation
Propagate by seed sown in pots in a cold frame in spring or autumn or propagate by division in early spring or take root cuttings in winter
Suggested planting locations and garden types
- Coastal
- Cottage and informal garden
- Gravel garden
- Wildlife gardens
- Cut flowers
- Flower borders and beds
Pruning
Cut down to ground level in autumn
Pests
May be susceptible to slugs and caterpillars
Diseases
May be susceptible to club root
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