# sea kale (*Crambe maritima*)

Sea kale is a special plant that grows by the sea. It has big, green leaves and pretty white flowers. People can eat its leaves and flowers, making it a tasty treat from nature!

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

![sea kale](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Crambe_Maritima_Estonia.jpg&width=800)

Photo: Siim at et.wikipedia, CC BY-SA 2.5 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Crambe_Maritima_Estonia.jpg)

## Appearance

The sea kale has large, waxy, blue-green leaves with crinkled edges, forming a striking mound. In summer, it produces dense clusters of small, fragrant white flowers that stand proudly above the foliage, contrasting with the dark leaves.

## Taxonomy

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

## Interesting facts

- Its shoots were once blanched and eaten like asparagus, a gourmet treat in Europe!
- Sea kale seeds are buoyant, allowing them to travel far across the ocean currents!
- This plant's bright white flower clusters glow like beacons on stormy coastal nights!
- Viking warriors might have eaten sea kale to stay healthy on long voyages!

## Special abilities

- **Oceanic Anchor:** Sea kale has a long, deep taproot that anchors it firmly in shifting sand and gravel, allowing it to find water deep underground.
- **Self-Sprinkler System:** Sea kale can excrete excess salt through special glands on its leaves, helping it survive harsh, salty coastal conditions.

## Measurements & details

- **Height:** 30-75 cm
- **Spread:** 60-90 cm
- **Flower Size:** 0.5-1 cm
- **Bloom Season:** Late_spring_to_mid_summer
- **Edible:** Yes
- **Toxicity:** None
- **Lifecycle:** Perennial
- **Pollination Method:** Insect

## Ecological connections

- **Pollinates:** European Honey Bee (*Apis mellifera*) — for nectar and pollen
- **Eaten by:** [Garden Snail](https://www.snappit.app/explore/garden-snail) (*Helix aspersa*) — grazes on leaves
- **Eaten by:** Diamondback Moth (*Plutella xylostella*) — larvae feed on 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.
- [Spring Blooming](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/spring-blooming): Spring blooming plants produce their flowers during the spring season, often signifying the end of winter and the start of new growth.
- [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.
- [Rapid Growing](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/rapid-growing): Rapid growing plants exhibit accelerated growth rates, quickly increasing in size and biomass within a short period.
- [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.

## Collections

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

## Safety

**Danger:** 1/5 · Very low

Always check with an adult before trying new plants to eat.

## Frequently Asked Questions

### How to identify sea kale?

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 sea kale?

30-75 cm

### How wide does sea kale spread?

60-90 cm

### How big are the flowers on sea kale?

0.5-1 cm

### When does sea kale bloom?

Late_spring_to_mid_summer

### Is sea kale edible?

Yes

### Is sea kale toxic?

None

### What is sea kale's lifecycle?

Perennial

## Where to spot

- [Planten un Blomen (Hamburg)](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/planten-un-blomen-hamburg) — Hamburg, DE · Park

## 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*)

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Source: [Sea Kale: Characteristics, Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/sea-kale)