Practical
Plants

Crithmum maritimum

Rock Samphire

a perennial member of the Crithmum genus in the family Umbelliferae.

No photo available

Taxonomy and growth

Life cycle
perennial
Height
0.25 m
Spread
0.25 m
Fertility
Self fertile, Insects
Flower type
hermaphrodite
Pollinators
Insects

Uses

Edible uses

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

Leaves - raw or cooked[6][12][13][14][2][10][11]. Vaguely reminiscent of fennel, but the taste is more bitter and brackish[3]. A powerful salty flavour, it has been described by one person as tasting like 'a mixture of celery and kerosene'[8]. The leaves are used as a flavouring in salads etc[3]. Gathered in spring, the young leaves when sprinkled with salt and boiled make a very good pickle[12]. The leaves are rich in vitamin C[8]. Seed pods[12][13][14][2]. They are used to make a warm aromatic pickle[6].

Plant part
Leaves
Plant part
Seedpod

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.

Rock samphire is little used in herbal medicine, though it is a good diuretic and holds out potential as a treatment for obesity[9]. It has a high vitamin C and mineral content and is thought to relieve flatulence and to act as a digestive remedy[9]. The young growing tips are carminative, depurative, digestive and diuretic[14][8]. They are gathered when in active growth in the spring and used fresh[14][8]. The leaves have the reputation for helping people lose weight and so are used in treating cases of obesity as well kidney complaints and sluggishness[8]. The essential oil is a digestive, a few drops being sprinkled on the food[14].

Product or use
Carminative
Product or use
Depurative
Product or use
Digestive
Product or use
Diuretic

Material uses

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

An essential oil from the plant is used in perfumery[14].

Product or use
Essential

Environment

Range
Coastal regions of Europe, including Britain, to the Mediterranean and Black Sea.
Habitat
On cliffs and rocks, or more rarely on shingle or sand, by the sea[5].
Light
full sun
Shade tolerance
no shade
Water
moderate
Hardiness
Zone 6+
Soil textures
sandy
Soil pH
acid, neutral, alkaline, very 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 - best sown as soon as it is ripe in the autumn[1]. Sow in a cold frame and only just cover the seed[4]. Germination usually takes place within 3 - 6 weeks at 15°c[4]. One report says that the seed only has a short viability and should be sown as soon as it is ripe[8], but it has germinated well with us when sown in April in a cold frame[K]. When they are large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and plant them out in early summer. Division in spring[8].

Cultivation

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

Prefers a moist light sandy or gravelly soil, doing very well between stones or by a south-east facing wall[11]. Requires a warm dry well-drained sunny position and shade from the midday sun[1][7]. Requires saline conditions[7]. Plants are best grown in moist salty soil or a very well-drained poor dry soil. When grown away from the coast, this plant requires a warm sheltered position and some protection in cold winters[8]. At one time this plant was sometimes cultivated in the vegetable garden[6], though it is quite difficult to do this successfully[1][11]. It is difficult to grow outside its natural habitat[4].

References

  1. F. Chittendon. RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956 Oxford University Press 1951-00-00

    ↩1↩2↩3

  2. Loewenfeld. C. and Back. P. Britain's Wild Larder. David and Charles ISBN 0-7153-7971-2

    ↩1↩2

  3. Bianchini. F., Corbetta. F. and Pistoia. M. Fruits of the Earth.

    ↩1↩2

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

    ↩1↩2↩3

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

    ↩

  6. Hedrick. U. P. Sturtevant's Edible Plants of the World. Dover Publications 1972-00-00 ISBN 0-486-20459-6

    ↩1↩2↩3

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

    ↩1↩2

  8. Bown. D. Encyclopaedia of Herbs and their Uses. Dorling Kindersley, London. 1995-00-00 ISBN 0-7513-020-31

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5↩6↩7↩8

  9. Chevallier. A. The Encyclopedia of Medicinal Plants Dorling Kindersley. London 1996-00-00 ISBN 9-780751-303148

    ↩1↩2

  10. Vilmorin. A. The Vegetable Garden. Ten Speed Press ISBN 0-89815-041-8

    ↩

  11. Thompson. B. The Gardener's Assistant. Blackie and Son. 1878-00-00

    ↩1↩2↩3

  12. Grieve. A Modern Herbal. Penguin 1984-00-00 ISBN 0-14-046-440-9

    ↩1↩2↩3

  13. Mabey. R. Food for Free. Collins 1974-00-00 ISBN 0-00-219060-5

    ↩1↩2

  14. Chiej. R. Encyclopaedia of Medicinal Plants. MacDonald 1984-00-00 ISBN 0-356-10541-5

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5↩6

Edit this page