Silver Ocean Mertensia Seeds

Silver Ocean is a highly ornamental herb that’s perfect for an edible landscape. A very winter hardy perennial (Zones 2-8), this edible plant has crispy, silvery-blue grey-green leaves that have the savory flavor of fresh oysters, often used in gourmet cooking. It grows to a mature size of 8 to 10 inches tall and 12 to 16 inches wide and blooms in clusters of pink buds and purple pendent flowers in summer.

A Mertensia maritima variety, commonly called oysterleaf, oyster plant, and seaside bluebells, Silver Ocean is a member of the Boraginacae family. Oyster plant has a low, spreading habit that’s not only great for an herb garden but also for garden beds, front of borders, mixed containers, and hanging baskets. Oyster plant is a natural in a cottage garden. And it has some drought tolerance and looks great planted in a rock garden. It also tolerates briny breezes, so it’s also suitable for a coastal garden.

Silver Ocean oyster plant grows best in a sunny to partially sunny spot with moist, freely draining soil. In hot climates, some afternoon shade may be beneficial. Learn more about growing herbs with our How to Grow Herbs Indoors blog.