Crambe maritima

We have long admired the European beach native Crambe maritima, but repeatedly failed when trying to grow it, assuming it to have no tolerance of our summer heat and humidity. We failed, until we stopped being too nice and planted it in almost pure gravel in our full sun scree garden, where it has thrived. Being a halophytic (loves salty soils) coastal native, deep sandy soils will also provide a proper habitat. Crambe maritima (first cousin to cabbage) is grown both as an ornamental and a food crop. The thick, waxy, heavily ruffled, large blue leaves of this RHS Award of Garden Merit winner are reason enough to grow sea kale, but when it sends up the tall spikes of baby's breath-like white flowers in spring, your heart will just melt.