Brassica balearica

Brassica balearica lives for more than two years. It belongs to Brassicaceae, the cabbage family. It is native to Majorca, in Spain’s Balearic Islands. There it grows on limestone cliffs. The RHS lists it as non-native to Britain and Ireland. PFAF questions whether it is a species in its own right. It may form part of Brassica cretica, a species with varied forms. The RHS, though, accepts the name used here.

The sources give few facts about its size or form. They give no height or spread for a full-grown plant. Nor do they describe its leaves, stems, flowers or fruit. PFAF says its flowers have both male and female organs. Insects move pollen between them. The source does not say when the plant blooms. The RHS describes traits found in the wider genus. These do not show what this species looks like.

PFAF lists sand, loam and clay as soils it can grow in. It says water must drain well, though the plant prefers moist ground. The soil may be neutral or alkaline, even strongly alkaline. The plant needs an open site, not shade. PFAF also says it can cope with sea winds. It lists garden beds as a place to grow it. These notes give a place to start. Yet few detailed records of how to grow it exist.

PFAF says it has little data on this species. Its wider advice draws on the needs of the genus. That advice calls for full sun and rich soil that drains well. No one has confirmed how much British cold it can bear. The source gives no firm temperature limit. PFAF suggests its native range may suit outdoor growth across much of Britain. It says to sow seeds in spring in a cold frame. Move each seedling to its own pot when large enough to handle. Plant them in their final sites in summer.

PFAF reports use as a vegetable but gives it a low food-use rating. It lists leaves, yet says the part people eat is not clear. These facts give no clear basis for advice on what to harvest. PFAF reports no known hazards, but this does not prove safety. It lists no known use as a medicine or for other purposes. It does not flag the plant as weedy. The sources give no account of pests or diseases for this species.