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Mertensia maritima is a deciduous perennial with fleshy, blue-grey-green leaves that naturally thrives on the wind and sea swept coasts of Western Europe.
It is colloquially known as the oyster leaf or oyster plant because the leaves give off a faint smell of mushrooms and, when eaten, it tastes vaguely of oysters.
The flowers are bright blue, bell-shaped flowers opening from pink buds in early summer.
This plant like to grow sand or cobble beaches where the ground can be siliceous or calcareous, and contains humus from decaying seaweed.
What does this means for those who love this plant but do not have the privilege of a living on the beach?
- Well draining soil with a strong sand base
- Add some compost once a month to give it a seaweed-humus-like boost
Nota bene: this is a snail’s faaaaavorite snack so make sure to protect Mertensia from a snail and slug feast
The Tales:
The chemical that gives this plant the oyster-like odour when its leaves are crushed is dimethyl sulphide, a compound that is noted for being a major part of the odour profile of raw oysters.
It mainly grows in a sub-Arctic climate and is exposed to very cold temperatures, waves that crash on the shore and strong winds – this means that the seeds need to be cold-stratified before they can germinate.
Other Names
sea lungwort
oyster plant in North America,
sea bluebells in the British Isles (sea blubells! isn’t that incredible!)
Origin:
Britain and Northern Europe
| Weight | 0,2 kg |
|---|---|
| Flowering | May, June, July |
| Soil | Sandy |
| Exposure | Half Sun/Half Shade |
| Frost Tolerance | -25°C to -30°C |
| Size | 0.2m H x 0.5m W |
| Other Powers | Salt Resistant |
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