Beach Greens

Beach or Shore-greens are a variety of edible greens that can be found in coastal areas or beaches where the high tide mark usually ends. Most of these greens can be found mid to late spring here into the summer. A lot of tasty salad ingredients grow on our beaches and they have very unique flavours mostly with a hint of salinity from growing so close to the ocean. Here are some of my favourites.

Oyster Leaf

Oyster leaf, or sea bluebells is a beautiful flowering plant found on rocky and sandy beaches where the high tide tends to stop. It has a blueish-green colour in the leaves and stems with beautiful tiny purple, pink, and blue flowers when in bloom. The leaves have a succulent texture with an earthy, briny, slightly fishy flavour that reminds you of raw oyster. It is a really nice addition to seafood salads and if quickly sautéed in butter, it can be served with seafood, such as fresh cod or halibut. It makes a gorgeous garnish for any seafood dish.

Sea Rocket

Found on both sandy and rocky beaches, but growing more lush and abundant on sandy beaches, sea rocket likes to grow along the high tide mark where it can be found in late spring through summer. It is a low growing, sprawling plant with erect stems. Its thick, green, almost succulent, lobed leaves have a spicy flavour like horseradish. The white flowers have four petals and can become pale lilac in colour. Sea Rocket is an excellent addition to salads that gives them a nice spicy bite. It is very nice pickled, then chopped and served along with fresh oysters. I also like to pickle the seed pods after the plants have flowered. The pickle juice then becomes a very intensely flavoured brine that is great for making a kind of Caesar’s or “Sea-sers” salad dressing.

Beach Peas / Sea Peas

This wild perennial pea in the legume family grows along the shore on rocky and sandy beaches, close to where the high tide stops. These plants look like regular garden peas, with long trailing stems and light green/blueish tinged leaves that are an egg-like shape. Beach peas have very beautiful pink flowers, fading to purple, in clusters of 3-5 that emerge above the surrounding leaves. The flowers usually bloom in mid-June and continue to emerge throughout July. Seed pods begin to appear in July when the weather gets hot and dry and quickly develop to enclose tiny little peas. I don't harvest or use the peas too much as it is a lot of work to remove the tiny peas from the pods. Instead, I harvest the flowers and new pea shoots for salads. They taste similar to peas you would grow in your garden. Beach Peas are safe in moderation but should not be overeaten because they contain a toxic amino acid.

Salt Bush / Orache

Salt Bush is also known as Orache, or Goose Foot and is known for its ability to adapt to harsh environments. Like many of the other beach greens, Orache can be found on coastal beaches where the high tide typically stops. The plant closely resembles the common garden “weed” known as Lamb’s Quarters. The jagged and diamond-shaped leaves resemble a goose’s foot. The flowers develop into small vividly red seeds. You can use the leaves like lamb’s quarters in salads, but they are extremely salty, so sometimes they are used like a salt replacement. The red seed pods are extremely salty too and can be a nice addition to pickling spice.

Goose Tongue

Goose Tongue, also known as Saltgrass or Seaside Plantain, is a perennial grass-like plant found growing in coastal areas, often under or between beach rocks. Unlike the other beach greens, it can handle harsh sea side climates and grow below the high tide line. Goose Tongue has an extensive tap root that works like an anchor to keep it from getting washed out by the waves. The erect greenish-brown flowers look just like the flowers of common garden plantain. The narrow grass-like leaves are thick and a little glossy or waxy. The leaves are extremely salty, so they are really nice steamed and served with butter like a green bean. My personal favourite thing to do with Goose Tongue is to make quick pickles.