Seed from Baker Creek. Commonly found growing along the famous shingle beaches in England, locals would cover the emerging shoots to blanch them like asparagus. Sailors would pickle the greens, which are naturally high in Vitamin C, for long sea voyages as a scurvy preventative, hence the nickname scurvy grass.

Until its recent re-discovery by temperate, permaculture gardeners as the perfect perennial green, Sea Kale was considered an arcane vegetable.

A robust, perennial cabbage relative native to the rugged coast of Western Europe, along the North Atlantic and to the Black Sea. For such a brawny, salt-tolerant kale, it has a surprisingly delicate flavor and highly fragrant flowers and has been wild foraged for thousands of years in its native range.

Thanks to its drought and salt tolerance, nectar-rich flowers for feeding the pollinators, and culinary versatility, Sea Kale is poised to rise to the top of every gardener’s must-have list. RARE, hard-to-find, expensive seed, but is a perennial and long-lasting plant.

Sun: Sea kale is easy to grow in full sunlight or partial shade.

Soil: Grows well in sandy well-drained soils.

Water: Drought tolerant.

Zones: 5

Height/Spread: Sea Kale will grow 30 inches tall by 24 inches wide.