Practical
Plants

Cochlearia danica

Danish Scurvy Grass

an annual member of the Cochlearia genus in the family Brassicaceae.

No photo available

Taxonomy and growth

Life cycle
annual
Height
0.2 m
Fertility
Self fertile, Self
Flower type
hermaphrodite
Pollinators
Self

Uses

Edible uses

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Leaves - raw or cooked[1][2][5]. Used as a flavouring in salads, it is considered to be superior to C. officinalis[6]. The leaves are rich in vitamin C[1], though very few people will actually enjoy the pungent flavour[K].

Plant part
Leaves

Medicinal uses

Historical medicinal uses. These records describe reported uses. They do not establish safety or effectiveness. Ask a qualified health professional before using any plant medicinally.

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

The leaves are a rich source of vitamin C and are used as an antiscorbutic[1].

Product or use
Antiscorbutic

Environment

Range
Coastal regions of Europe, including Britain, from Norway to Atlantic Spain and Portugal.
Habitat
Sandy and rocky shores, walls and banks by the sea and along railway lines, avoiding acid soils[4].
Light
full sun
Shade tolerance
no shade
Water
moderate
Hardiness
Zone 6+
Soil textures
sandy, loamy, clay
Soil pH
neutral, alkaline
Drainage
well drained
Tolerances
high wind, maritime exposure
Wind
Yes
Maritime
Yes
Tolerates Nutritionally Poor Soil
No
Drought
intolerant
Salinity
tolerant

Propagation

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Seed - sow spring or autumn in situ. Germination usually takes place within 2 - 3 weeks at 15°c[3].

Cultivation

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Prefers a damp well-drained soil. Avoids acid soils in the wild. Prefers a sandy or gritty well-drained soil[7]. Hybridizes with C. officinalis[4].

References

  1. Polunin. O. Flowers of Europe - A Field Guide. Oxford University Press 1969-00-00 ISBN 0192176218

    ↩1↩2↩3

  2. Tanaka. T. Tanaka's Cyclopaedia of Edible Plants of the World. Keigaku Publishing 1976-00-00

    ↩

  3. Bird. R. (Editor) Growing from Seed. Volume 4. Thompson and Morgan. 1990-00-00

    ↩

  4. Clapham, Tootin and Warburg. Flora of the British Isles. Cambridge University Press 1962-00-00

    ↩1↩2

  5. Kunkel. G. Plants for Human Consumption. Koeltz Scientific Books 1984-00-00 ISBN 3874292169

    ↩

  6. Facciola. S. Cornucopia - A Source Book of Edible Plants. Kampong Publications 1990-00-00 ISBN 0-9628087-0-9

    ↩

  7. Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press 1992-00-00 ISBN 0-333-47494-5

    ↩

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