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Crambe cordifolia - Stev.

Common Name Flowering sea kale
Family Brassicaceae or Cruciferae
USDA hardiness 5-9
Known Hazards None known
Habitats Grows on the steppes and open stony places[74, 187].
Range W. Asia - Afghanistan and Iran.
Edibility Rating    (3 of 5)
Other Uses    (3 of 5)
Weed Potential No
Medicinal Rating    (1 of 5)
Care (info)
Fully Hardy Well drained soil Moist Soil Semi-shade Full sun
Crambe cordifolia Flowering sea kale


http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/User:Rasbak
Crambe cordifolia Flowering sea kale
http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/User:Rasbak

 

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Summary


Physical Characteristics

 icon of manicon of flower
Crambe cordifolia is a PERENNIAL growing to 2 m (6ft) by 1.2 m (4ft in).
See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 6 and is not frost tender. It is in flower in June, and the seeds ripen in August. The species is hermaphrodite (has both male and female organs) and is pollinated by Insects.
Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils and can grow in nutritionally poor soil. Suitable pH: neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils. It can grow in semi-shade (light woodland) or no shade. It prefers dry or moist soil and can tolerate drought. The plant can tolerate maritime exposure.

UK Hardiness Map US Hardiness Map

Synonyms

Habitats

 Ground Cover; Meadow;

Edible Uses

Edible Parts: Leaves  Root
Edible Uses:

Leaves - cooked[2, 105, 177]. Used as a potherb[183]. Young leaves have a pleasant cabbage-like flavour, though older leaves are rather tough[K]. Root - cooked[2, 145, 177].

References   More on Edible Uses

Medicinal Uses

Plants For A Future can not take any responsibility for any adverse effects from the use of plants. Always seek advice from a professional before using a plant medicinally.
Antipruritic

The plant is used as a cure for itch[240].

References   More on Medicinal Uses

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Other Uses

Plants can be used for ground cover when planted about 1.2 metres apart each way. They form large clumps[208].

Special Uses

Food Forest  Ground cover  Scented Plants

References   More on Other Uses

Cultivation details

An easily grown plant, succeeding in a good loam and an open sunny position[1, 111, 200] but also tolerating some shade[188]. Prefers a slightly alkaline soil in a position sheltered from strong winds[200]. Another place in this report says that the plant tolerates maritime exposure[200]. Tolerates poor and dry soils and some shade[200]. Dislikes acid soils[1]. Established plants are drought tolerant[190]. Plants are hardy to about -20°c[187]. A deep-rooted plant[233], it dislikes root disturbance. The young growth in spring is adored by slugs[K]. Plants can be grown in the summer meadow if the grass is not cut too low, since this would damage the growing point[200]. The flowers emit a delicious wallflower-like scent in hot sunny weather[245].

References   Carbon Farming Information and Carbon Sequestration Information

Temperature Converter

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Propagation

Seed - sow March/April in a seedbed outdoors and either thin the plants out or move them to their permanent positions when about 10cm tall[111]. The young plants are very attractive to slugs so some protection will often be needed. Germination can be slow so it is best to sow the seed in pots in a cold frame[164]. Germination usually takes place in 3 - 26 weeks at 15°c[164]. Prick out the seedlings into individual pots as soon as they are large enough to handle and plant out into their permanent positions when they are at least 10cm tall. Division in spring or autumn[1, 111]. Dig up the root clump and cut off as many sections as you require, making sure they all have at least one growing point. The larger of these divisions can be planted out straight into their permanent positions, though small ones are best potted up and grown on in a cold frame until they are established. Root cuttings, 3 - 10 cm long, in spring[104]. These can be planted straight into the open ground or you can pot them up in the greenhouse and plant them out once they are growing strongly.

Other Names

If available other names are mentioned here

Flowering sea kale , Heart-leaved colewort, Greater sea-kale, Colewort,Heartleaf crambe

Native Plant Search

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Found In

Countries where the plant has been found are listed here if the information is available

Weed Potential

Right plant wrong place. We are currently updating this section. Please note that a plant may be invasive in one area but may not in your area so it’s worth checking.

Conservation Status

IUCN Red List of Threatened Plants Status :

Related Plants
Latin NameCommon NameHabitHeightHardinessGrowthSoilShadeMoistureEdibleMedicinalOther
Crambe abyssinicaAbyssinian Kale, CrambeAnnual1.0 10-12  LMHSNM104
Crambe kotschyana Perennial2.5 6-9  LMHSNDM21 
Crambe maritimaSea KalePerennial0.6 4-8  LMHSNDM403
Crambe orientalis Perennial1.2 6-9  LMHSNM30 
Crambe tataricaTartar Bread PlantPerennial1.0 4-8  LMHSNM302
Theligonum cynocrambeDog's CabbageAnnual0.1 -  LMHSNDM11 

Growth: S = slow M = medium F = fast. Soil: L = light (sandy) M = medium H = heavy (clay). pH: A = acid N = neutral B = basic (alkaline). Shade: F = full shade S = semi-shade N = no shade. Moisture: D = dry M = Moist We = wet Wa = water.

 

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Expert comment

Author

Stev.

Botanical References

74200

Links / References

For a list of references used on this page please go here

Readers comment

Julie Hammon   Sun Dec 30 2007

Does Crambe cordifolia bloom in the first year planted from seed?

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