Seasonal Wild Flowers

Sea Beet

Beta vulgaris subsp. maritima

Chenopodiaceae

June to September

It is found all round the coast.

See the BSBI distribution map for Sea Beet

It grows on nutrient rich coastal habitats such as, cliffs,

rocks, saltmarshes, shingle and sandy beaches.

Sea Beet is a native, branched, prostrate, perennial herb

growing up to 80cm

Flowers are on long, bending spikes.

There are no petals, but there is a perianth with 5 fleshy

green segments.

There are 5 yellow stamens and a single ovary.

A single-seeded fruit is held in the mature, fleshy, clasping

perianth.

Leaves are dark green and up to 10cm long.

Previous page: Sand Toadflax
Next page: Sea Bindweed

Sea Beet leaves and flowering spikes

Flowering spikes

Perianth- 5 segments, 5 stamens

Mature perianth with fruit inside

Immature flowering spikes

Leaves of young plant

Close-up of leaves