Plant Details

Mertensia maritima

Oyster Plant

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Common names

22 names · 17 languages
EnglishYour language
  • Oyster Plant
  • oysterleaf[1]
  • Oysterplant[1]
+2 more namesShow fewer names
  • Sea Bluebells[1]
  • Sea Lungwort[1]
Other languages (16)
Dutch
  • Oesterblad[1]
French
  • mertensie maritime[1]
  • Plante huître
Chinese (Simplified)
Chinese (Traditional)
Czech
  • plícněnka přímořská[1]
Danish
  • Hestetunge[1]
Faroese
  • sævarrossatunga[1]
Finnish
  • merihalikka[1]
German
  • Austernpflanze[1]
Icelandic
Japanese
  • ハマベンケイソウ（広義）[1]
Norwegian
  • østersurt[1]
Polish
  • mertensja nadmorska[1]
Russian
  • Мертензия морская[1]
Slovak
  • mertenzia prímorská[1]
Swedish
  • ostronört[1]
Sources & name notes (1)

Names recorded in our plant catalogue and botanical sources, grouped by language. Usage can vary by region.

Numbered references identify names recorded by an external source. Other names are from our plant catalogue.

[1] Mertensia maritima — iNaturalist taxon names ↗

Community-curated iNaturalist taxonomy; common-name attestation, not an independent botanical determination.

Source records
  • Oysterplant — results[0].names[1]; taxon id 165350; Mertensia maritima.
  • Sea Lungwort — results[0].names[2]; taxon id 165350; Mertensia maritima.
  • mertensie maritime — results[0].names[3]; taxon id 165350; Mertensia maritima.
  • Hestetunge — results[0].names[4]; taxon id 165350; Mertensia maritima.
  • Мертензия морская — results[0].names[5]; taxon id 165350; Mertensia maritima.
  • østersurt — results[0].names[6]; taxon id 165350; Mertensia maritima.
  • merihalikka — results[0].names[7]; taxon id 165350; Mertensia maritima.
  • plícněnka přímořská — results[0].names[8]; taxon id 165350; Mertensia maritima.
  • Austernpflanze — results[0].names[9]; taxon id 165350; Mertensia maritima.
  • 滨紫草 — results[0].names[10]; taxon id 165350; Mertensia maritima.
  • 濱紫草 — results[0].names[11]; taxon id 165350; Mertensia maritima.
  • ostronört — results[0].names[12]; taxon id 165350; Mertensia maritima.
  • sævarrossatunga — results[0].names[13]; taxon id 165350; Mertensia maritima.
  • Sea Bluebells — results[0].names[14]; taxon id 165350; Mertensia maritima.
  • oysterleaf — results[0].names[15]; taxon id 165350; Mertensia maritima.
  • Blálilja — results[0].names[16]; taxon id 165350; Mertensia maritima.
  • mertensja nadmorska — results[0].names[17]; taxon id 165350; Mertensia maritima.
  • ハマベンケイソウ（広義） — results[0].names[18]; taxon id 165350; Mertensia maritima.
  • mertenzia prímorská — results[0].names[19]; taxon id 165350; Mertensia maritima.
  • Oesterblad — results[0].names[20]; taxon id 165350; Mertensia maritima.

General information

Scientific name: Mertensia maritima
Accepted name (Kew): Mertensia maritima (L.) Gray View name reference ↗

Accepted in the cited Kew taxonomic treatment.

Sources [1] [2]
Botanical family: Boraginaceae

Kew's family placement for the genus Mertensia (WCVP v16).

Sources [1]
Also known as: Oyster Plant
Images: Google Images

Plant characteristics

Layer: Herbaceous, Vegetable, Ground cover
Catalogue size class: Small
Height: 0.20 m
Spread: 0.20 m
Growth rate: Fast
Foliage: Deciduous

Growing conditions

USDA hardiness: 3-7
Soil moisture:
Well-drained, Moist
Soil:
Sand (light) Loam (medium)
pH:
Acidic Neutral Alkaline
Light:
Full sun

Uses

Edible parts:
Leaves, Root, Flowers
Edibility rating:
(3)
Medicinal rating:
(0)
Functions:
None

Description

Leaves can be eaten both raw and cooked, and they are said to have a subtle oyster flavor, although not many people are familiar with the taste of oysters. The flavor of the leaves is quite mild, they are thick and have a slimy texture reminiscent of oysters. The roots were traditionally eaten by the Inuit of Alaska. The flowers can be eaten raw.

Harvest

Harvest starts: 01/05
Harvest ends: 30/09

Sources and references

References for the information marked with source numbers on this page.

Sources checked
  1. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew World Checklist of Vascular Plants, version 16, extracted 4 June 2026
    Supports: Botanical familyTaxonomy
    Relevant sections
    • Botanical family: WCVP v16, wcvp_names.csv row 70040; name ID 2359045; Mertensia Roth. Family column.
    • Taxonomy: WCVP v16, wcvp_names.csv row 46261; name ID 2357688; Mertensia maritima (L.) Gray.

    Source checked on .

    Source data licence: CC BY 3.0.

  2. Catalogue of Life Catalogue of Life 2026-08-20 — Mertensia maritima

    Taxonomic data from World Plants, version 26.05, reproduced in Catalogue of Life 2026-08-20.

    Supports: Taxonomy
    Relevant sections
    • Taxonomy: COL 2026-08-20, NameUsage.tsv line 2322453, ID 6RB9S: Mertensia maritima (L.) Gray (accepted).

    Source checked on .