Crambe

Family Brassicaceae. Location: prefers to grow in a sunny, warm place, but tolerates partial shade. The site should be sheltered from strong winds.

Soil: moderately dry, fresh, well supplied with nutrients. Does not tolerate wet sites!

Care: fertilize well, mainly with mineral fertilizers. Can be staked; after flowering cut back to avoid excessive self-seeding. In autumn dig around the shrubs if you wish to limit the spread of the plant.

Propagation: by offsets. Easy to grow from seeds, which should be sown in autumn as they require winter stratification. These are long-lived plants, reaching their prime only three years after planting.

Usage: crambe is a large plant that requires some space, so it should be planted singly (or in a group of 2-3 specimens) against a lawn or low-growing groundcover species. Not suitable for bouquets because of the strong scent of the flowers, although they last a long time in water.

Companions: pairs well with roses.