This perennial dies back to below ground level each year in autumn, then fresh new growth appears again in spring.
"Tall branching airy heads of tiny, white flowers on stout green stems reach out to the sky every June - these are replaced by tiny rounded green beads"
This is a tall member of the Kale family - and I mean tall a good 5' and some and it's wide so needs plenty of space at the back of the border in a sunny position and then leave it to it - and it really does attract bees, butterflies and hoover flies. Being white flowered it really compliments other colours in front of it.
Viking Lady
LINCOLN
I saw this plant in a café garden and had to have one. It was HUGE and full of tiny white flowers. I keep bees and I'm hoping that they and butterflies etc will like it too. The plant has so far over wintered outside and looks ready to burst in to action. It is a Brassica and I am aware that I will have to protest it from caterpillars slugs etc. That might be a problem!
SuzieD
Norfolk
Sat outside of greenhouse, waiting to be planted, saw a pheasant digging at the surface. Had good root system , so planted with an upturned wire hanging basket, but no show at all. Suppose the pheasant ate the growing tip
Shoo
Countryside
A very effective plant for a big space but was destroyed to lace by cabbage white caterpillers so will remove them.
w
south wales
Good quality plant, budding up nicely for its first season.
SamIAm
Buckinghamshire
Crambe cordifolia needs space to spread out its large leaves. Mine is at the back of the flower bed. It has a very attractive architectural presence and puts down long roots, so avoid moving it if possible. The sprays of white flowers are lovely. Slugs do head for Crambe's leaves, so take precautions early in Spring when the growth starts again. Dies down in Winter. Last year I cut out the lowest leaves to allow air into the plant.
Stachys
East Yorkshire
I have previously taken Crambe cordifolia root cuttings in January so to have two plants, if a bit small, was good. The large green leaves were shredded by snails and insects but I persevered but it didn't flowered. 2017 will be its 'coming out year' and I have great hopes plus snail/slug pellets - watch this space. One plant is in my garden the other had to be rescued from my son's garden where I will reposition it soon in a better spot.
Janet
Hythe, Kent.
Everything was going well with the Crambe - Crocus gave good information and the plant was growing really well at the start of the season. Then disaster - struck by an attack of caterpillars and it was stripped to the bones over a weekend. Having dealt with the monsters, the plant still managed to re-grow and look good with some tlc. Unsurprisingly there were no flowers but I was happy to keep the plant alive. Looking forward to better results next year, but I will take extra care to keep off the butterflies.
Waybug
South Devon
Potentially a large attractive plant but being a brassica the plant was a magnet for cabbage white butterflies and the leaves were soon reduced to tatters by masses of caterpillars. Replaced plant with something more suitable.
Rozzer
Hampshire
75.0
?
Hi there A number of plants are late emerging this year due to the weather. Over the next couple of weeks you should start to see the new growth coming through especially now we have some sunshine.
Georgina
Robert Wilne
Hello There, There are a number of reasons why plants don't flower including too much shade, not enough water or nutrients, or pruning at the wrong time of the year. It can also be caused by the plant putting on new root growth instead of focusing its energies on producing flowers. I am not really sure why yours has not produced buds, but you can often give them a bit of a push by feeding with a high potash fertiliser. I hope this helps. Helen Plant Doctor
Crocus Helpdesk
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