# Scurvy grass (*Cochlearia officinalis*)

Scurvy grass is a small, leafy plant that grows near the sea. It has bright green leaves and tiny white flowers, making it a cheerful sight in coastal areas.

- **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant)
- **Rarity:** Common
- **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low
- **Habitat:** Coastal areas

![Scurvy grass](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/K%C3%B6hler's_Medizinal-Pflanzen_in_naturgetreuen_Abbildungen_mit_kurz_erl%C3%A4uterndem_Texte_%28Plate_57%29_%286972247832%29.jpg&width=800)

Photo: Brandt, Wilhelm; Gürke, M.; Köhler, F. E.; Pabst, G.; Schellenberg, G.; Vogtherr, Max., Public domain · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:K%C3%B6hler's_Medizinal-Pflanzen_in_naturgetreuen_Abbildungen_mit_kurz_erl%C3%A4uterndem_Texte_%28Plate_57%29_%286972247832%29.jpg)

## Appearance

The Scurvy grass is a small plant with shiny, fleshy, heart-shaped or kidney-shaped basal leaves. It produces upright stems topped with clusters of tiny, four-petaled white flowers. Its humble appearance is distinctive in its often harsh coastal habitats.

## Taxonomy

- **Kingdom:** Plantae
- **Phylum:** Tracheophyta
- **Class:** Magnoliopsida
- **Order:** Brassicales
- **Family:** Brassicaceae
- **Genus:** Cochlearia

## Interesting facts

- Despite its name, this resilient plant is a relative of the common cabbage and broccoli!
- It can often be found growing in surprising spots, like cracks in sidewalks near the sea!
- Its zesty leaves were a vital food source for explorers on long, arduous sea voyages!
- The tiny, round seed pods look like mini green balloons before they burst open!

## Special abilities

- **Vitamin C Powerhouse:** Scurvy grass has exceptionally high Vitamin C content, making it a crucial source of this nutrient for survival.
- **Salt-Tolerant Survivor:** Scurvy grass can grow directly in salty soils and coastal areas, thriving where most plants cannot.
- **Rapid Nutrient Delivery:** Scurvy grass grows quickly, allowing early sailors to easily harvest fresh, essential nutrients on long voyages.

## Measurements & details

- **Height:** 5-30 cm
- **Spread:** 10-25 cm
- **Flower Size:** 0.3-0.6 cm
- **Bloom Season:** Spring to Summer
- **Edible:** Yes
- **Toxicity:** None
- **Lifecycle:** Biennial
- **Pollination Method:** Insect

## Ecological connections

- **Pollinates:** European honey bee (*Apis mellifera*) — collects nectar and pollen
- **Pollinates:** Buff-tailed bumblebee (*Bombus terrestris*) — helps spread pollen among plants
- **Eaten by:** Small White butterfly (*Pieris rapae*) — caterpillars feed on its leaves

## Traits

- [Flowering](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/flowering): Flowering plants are any plants that produce flowers as part of their reproductive cycle.
- [Biennial](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/biennial): Biennial plants complete their life cycle over two growing seasons, typically forming foliage in the first year and flowering/seeding in the second.
- [Medicinal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/medicinal): Medicinal plants possess chemical compounds that can be used for therapeutic purposes to treat illnesses or maintain health.
- [Salt Tolerant](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/salt-tolerant): Salt tolerant plants can withstand and grow in conditions with elevated salinity levels in the soil or water.
- [Edible](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/edible): Edible plants are those parts of a plant that are considered safe for human consumption.
- [Pollinator Magnet](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/pollinator-magnet): Describes plants that are particularly attractive and beneficial to a wide range of pollinating organisms.
- [Coastal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/coastal): Coastal habitats are dynamic environments located along the interface between land and sea, influenced by tides, waves, and saltwater.
- [Marine](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/marine): Marine habitats encompass all saltwater environments of the Earth's oceans, supporting an immense diversity of aquatic life.

## Collections

- [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/plants)

## Safety

**Danger:** 1/5 · Very low

Always ask an adult before touching or tasting any plants.

## Frequently Asked Questions

### How to identify Scurvy grass?

Start with the whole plant, then compare leaf arrangement, leaf edges, stems and any flowers or fruit. Opposite leaves grow in pairs; alternate leaves come one at a time along the stem. These details tell you far more together than a single green leaf does. Plant Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details.

### How tall is Scurvy grass?

5-30 cm

### How wide does Scurvy grass spread?

10-25 cm

### How big are the flowers on Scurvy grass?

0.3-0.6 cm

### When does Scurvy grass bloom?

Spring to Summer

### Is Scurvy grass edible?

Yes

### Is Scurvy grass toxic?

None

### What is Scurvy grass's lifecycle?

Biennial

## More Plants

- [white snakeroot](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-snakeroot) (*Ageratina altissima*)
- [tree-of-heaven](https://www.snappit.app/explore/tree-of-heaven) (*Ailanthus altissima*)
- [western sword fern](https://www.snappit.app/explore/western-sword-fern) (*Polystichum munitum*)
- [common milkweed](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-milkweed) (*Asclepias syriaca*)

---

Source: [Scurvy grass: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/scurvy-grass)