Mertensia maritima is a flowering plant native to Britain and Northern Europe; it is also known as oyster plant or sea bluebells. It can be found growing wild in coastal areas throughout the UK, although native populations are declining, and it is becoming more popular as an interesting edible since avant-garde chefs incorporated it into their menus. Its appealing blue-green, fleshy leaves have a very distinct flavour – salt, mushroom and a fresh touch of minerality – providing a pure taste experience, similar to tasting a real oyster but with more sophisticated nuances. If you have a cool to cold garden with gravel and sand soil, you can give this ‘vegetarian oyster’ a try!