Skip to main content
Call the samphire brigade!
Gardening with MAT COWARD
[Xemenendura / Creative Commons]

ROCK SAMPHIRE is a vegetable which neatly divides the world into lovers and haters. 

It would be hard to be indifferent to a flavour which even those who are most keen on it often describe as being reminiscent of church polish or kerosene.

Crithmum maritimum is sometimes known as sea fennel or true samphire, and shouldn’t be confused with marsh samphire (Salicornia), an entirely separate plant. 

The 95th Anniversary Appeal
Support the Morning Star
You have reached the free limit.
Subscribe to continue reading.
Similar stories
Kew Gardens
Gardening / 7 August 2026
7 August 2026

MAT COWARD says the heatwave is a testing time for gardeners — but he has some tips

Crocus flowers
Gardening / 10 July 2026
10 July 2026

More expensive by weight than gold, saffron is surprisingly simple to grow. MAT COWARD explains

Savoy Italian cabbage. Photo: Goldlocki/CC
Gardening / 2 January 2026
2 January 2026

MAT COWARD takes a look at some of the options for keen gardeners as we enter 2026

(L to R) Flowering parsnip in its second year; Oven baked parsnip with honey and mustard / Pics (L to R): Pic: Skogkatten/CC Takeaway/CC
Gardening / 6 December 2025
6 December 2025

Commiserations if you failed this year, MAT COWARD offers six points which, if followed religiously, will ensure you succeed next year