Lysimachia maritima aka Black Saltwort

Lysimachia maritima, also listed as Glaux maritima, is sea milkwort. It belongs to the primrose family, Primulaceae. Other names include black saltwort, sea milkweed, and sea trifoly. This perennial comes from temperate parts of the Northern Hemisphere. Its range spans parts of Europe, Asia, and North America. It is native to Britain and Ireland. Records also place it in Japan, China, and Pakistan.

Sea milkwort is a small plant for low planting spaces. It reaches about 1 foot (0.3 metres) in height. Its spread is also about 1 foot (0.3 metres). The plant grows in grassy salt marshes and coastal rock cracks. It also occurs at cliff bases near the sea. Away from coasts, it grows in inland places with salty soils. These habitats show its close link with salt-rich ground. Plants For A Future lists cultivated beds as a growing location.

Flowers appear from June to August. Each flower has both male and female organs. Insects pollinate the flowers, and the plant is self-fertile. The supplied sources give no detail about fruit or seeds. They also give no clear account of leaf or stem form. Its small size and summer bloom are the main garden features described.

Grow sea milkwort in full sun and moist soil. It does not grow well in shade. It accepts sandy soil, loam, and clay. Suitable soils range from mildly acid to mildly alkaline. It can grow in saline ground and withstand coastal exposure. Plants For A Future states that frost does not harm it. The evidence gives no numbered hardiness zone. Sow seed in a cold frame during spring. Move seedlings into separate pots once large enough to handle. Plant them out in summer. Spring division is another option. Larger divisions can go straight into their final sites. Grow smaller pieces in pots until they root well.

Plants For A Future lists leaves and young shoots as edible. Young shoots may be eaten raw or pickled. Its cooked-root food report concerns a subspecies, so it is excluded here. The source also records a traditional use of boiled roots for sleep. It lists no known hazards, but gives no detailed safety assessment. The supplied evidence names no pests or diseases.