Sea Kale

Sea kale (Crambe maritima) is a long-lived herbaceous perennial with broad, wavy blue-green leaves and clouds of small white flowers in late spring or early summer. It has a history as a European coastal potherb and also works as a bold ornamental for sunny borders, gravel gardens and other open sites. [Plant Select](https://plantselect.org/plant/crambe-maritima/) lists its white bloom, full-sun exposure, broad soil tolerance and USDA zones 4–8; the [Chicago Botanic Garden](https://www.chicagobotanic.org/plant-information/plant-finder/crambe-maritima-sea-kale) records zones 4–9 and notes tolerance of both wet and dry soils and salty water. ## Placement Give this clump-forming plant room for large leaves and a broad spread. It grows in sun or partial shade and is suited to clay, loam or sandy soil; Plant Select recommends moderate-to-dry watering, while the Chicago Botanic Garden reports a wider moisture tolerance. Size references differ: Plant Select gives 18–24 inches tall and 30–48 inches wide, while RHS lists 0.5–1 metre tall and 0.1–0.5 metre wide. Use those ranges to allow space rather than treating one mature outline as universal. ## Maintenance After flowering, cut back old stems in fall or spring. Established plants need little water according to Plant Select; follow local rainfall and soil conditions.