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An exciting and rarely seen perennial herb most often found growing wild in isolated coastal areas around the UK. Native to the Northern Hemisphere, Mertensia maritima is a relatively new introduction to the garden which produces branched clusters of bright blue, bell-shaped flowers, opening from pink buds, in June and July. A pretty, ground covering plant which also has edible leaves, said to taste of oysters – hence the common name! Why not pick and munch or add to salads for some really unusual culinary flair. Plants will happily grow in containers, baskets or rockeries and need well-drained soil which mimics their coastal conditions in the wild. Plant in either full sun or partial shade. Mertensia maritima is a hardy (H5), herbaceous perennial which is suitable for growing in sandy soil, and its attractive, glaucous foliage is held from March to October for up to 8 months of intriguing foliage interest. Matures to a height of 10cm with a spread of 50cm.
Flower and Foliage Months
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Foliage Month
Flowering Month
Key Information
| Latin Name | Mertensia maritima |
|---|---|
| Common Name | Oysterplant |
| Hardiness | H5 (-10 to -15°C) |
| Colour | Blue |
| Format | Young Plants |
| Position | Full-Sun, Part-Shade, Part-Sun |
| Foliage | Deciduous |
| Height in Maturity (m) | 0.10 m |
| Spread in Maturity (m) | 0.50 |
| Soil Conditions | Clay Sand |
| Soil Acidity | Acid Alkaline Neutral |
| Aspect | East-facing, West-facing |
| Drought Tolerant | Yes |
| Good for pots | Yes |
| Good for hanging baskets | Yes |
| Good for Rockeries | Yes |
| Good for groundcover | Yes |
