Sea Beet / Spring / Summer / Autumn / Winter / Edible

Common Names

Sea beet, Wild spinach

Botanical Name

Beta vulgaris maritima

Scientific Classification

Kingdom – Plantae

Order –Caryophyllales 

Family – Amaranthaceae

Physical Characteristics of Sea Beet

Sea beet is a sprawling perennial growing up to 1m, although rarely found standing up.

Leaves

Its leaves can vary in size greatly from 5-40cm in length and 2-20cm in width. They’re triangular to oval, glossy and dark green; the vein ridges are deep and obvious. Growing from one single point in the ground.

Flowers & Seeds

Each plant will produce a number of long thin stems up to 1m long, full of minute green flowers and seed pods between July-September.

Habitat

Found growing on shingle beaches, coastlines, and wastelands by the coast.

Known Hazards

None Known

Could be confused with

Possibly confused with Sea Kale (Crambe Maritima) although sea kale leaves are very wavy, more of a green / yellow and are really quite different when you see the two plants together.

Edible Use

Stem & Leaves: wilted, steamed, baked, stir-fried, for wrapping food.

Flower & Seeds: in salads, and as leaves except for wrapping food.

Click here to see our favourite Sea beet recipes.

Notes on Herbal uses

Traditionally used to cure intestinal tumours, although there is very little evidence that it is effective.

Extra notes from the Foragers

If you periodically cut back Sea beet, not the whole plant but up to 40% of its shoots it will continue to produce fresh young leaves throughout the year. Leaves growing in shaded places will be a lot larger and are perfect for wrapping fish before putting on the BBQ or beach fire.