About
Crambe Maritima St Ninian's Cave is a Crambe that bears dense racemes of tiny white or yellow flowers held above a rosette of basal leaves. Flowering occurs from June to August. The inflorescences are borne on mostly leafless stems so the flower spikes read clearly above surrounding foliage.
About the genus
Crambe is a genus of annual and perennial flowering plants in the family Brassicaceae, native to a variety of habitats in Europe, Turkey, southwest and central Asia and eastern Africa. They carry dense racemes of tiny white or yellow flowers on stems above the basal leaves. Crambe hispanica subsp. abyssinica, formerly known as Crambe abyssinica, is grown for the oil from the seeds that has characteristics similar to whale oil.
Wikipedia contributors, "Crambe", CC BY-SA 4.0 — Crambe
In the garden
Crambe Maritima St Ninian's Cave belongs to the genus Crambe, a group found across Europe, Turkey, southwest and central Asia, and eastern Africa; members of the genus occupy a range of habitats. Individual plants carry dense racemes of small white or yellow flowers on stems that rise above the basal leaf rosette, a habit that makes the flowering stems straightforward to identify in season. Flowering season runs from June to August. Plants in the genus occur in a variety of conditions, which suggests this selection will tolerate a range of soil types and siting within a garden, though the distinctive feature to plan for is the upright, mostly leafless flower stem. Allow space so the flower spikes can rise above lower neighbours and be seen plainly; stems can also be left for seed if you wish to observe the finishing form of the racemes. In a UK garden place Crambe Maritima St Ninian's Cave where its tall flower stems will be visible from paths or seating areas, or at the rear of a perennial border so the spikes rise above lower planting. Leave the flowering stems in place until seed has set to appreciate the full development of the racemes.
