Sea Kale

Sea Kale is a little-known, ancient leafy green that makes a superb perennial for ornamental gardens in the West. Perennial and dang tough, it flowers even with little irrigation thanks to deep, tenacious taproots and a waxy, blue-green coating on its massive leaves that minimizes water loss. Use it as a statement plant where it can be the center of attention during its three-week-long flowering period in late spring, or as a theme plant, sprinkled along a bed to add cohesion.

While each four-petaled flower is tiny, they’re held in dense clouds of thousands on many-branched, 3-foot-tall stems. Sea Kale flowers are fragrant, with a scent reminiscent of honey, and very popular with bees. Deadheading after bloom allows this plant to shine all season long by revealing its massive, blue-green leaves and prevents self-seeding, which can occur on some sites.