Rock Samphire

Appears in

Published 1986

About

Crithmum maritimum This perennial herb occurs on the coast from Ayr to Cornwall and eastwards to Kent and Suffolk and also on the coasts of Ireland and the isles of Lewis and Islay. It is found hanging in tassels on cliffs and rocks or, more rarely, on shingle or sand by the sea. It flowers from June to September but the leaves are at their best and freshest between spring and early summer, before the flowers appear.

Rock samphire was at one time cultivated in English gardens for its seed pods and used to be cried in London streets as ‘Crest Marine’. The stems, leaves and seed pods may be pickled if sprinkled with salt, boiled and covered with vinegar and spices. The popularity of the pickle is due to the warm, aromatic flavour of the plant. Robinson considers ‘it makes a fine pickle, which was formerly highly esteemed. The sale of it has been almost stopped by adulteration’, and Hill agrees: ‘The leaves are used fresh; but those which grow immediately from the Root, where there is no stalk are best; They are pickled, and brought to our Tables; but they are often adulterated, and other Things pickled in their Place.’