# American searocket (*Cakile edentula*) The American searocket is a fun plant that grows near the beach! It has long, green leaves and pretty purple flowers. This plant loves salty air and can even survive in sandy soil. - **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Snaps:** 5 - **Habitat:** Coastal areas ![American searocket](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Cakile_edentula_%28Habitus%29.jpg&width=800) Photo: Ixitixel, CC BY-SA 3.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Cakile_edentula_%28Habitus%29.jpg) ## Appearance The American searocket is a sprawling or erect plant with thick, fleshy stems and deeply lobed, succulent leaves. Its small, four-petaled flowers range from white to pale pink or lavender, producing unique, segmented, rocket-shaped seed pods. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Plantae - **Phylum:** Tracheophyta - **Class:** Magnoliopsida - **Order:** Brassicales - **Family:** Brassicaceae - **Genus:** Cakile ## Interesting facts - Its 'rocket' name comes from its segmented seed pods, which are shaped like tiny rockets! - Its peppery leaves are edible, tasting like a spicy salad green right from the beach! - The American searocket is a true beach pioneer, often the first plant to sprout on new sand! - These plants protect fragile coastlines by catching sand, helping to build up new dunes! ## Special abilities - **Salt Shield:** American searocket has fleshy leaves that store water, helping it survive salty ocean spray and dry coastal winds. - **Sand Anchor:** Its strong root system quickly anchors in loose sand, preventing erosion and helping it colonize new dunes. - **Floating Seeds:** American searocket produces unique seed pods that can float on water, spreading its seeds far along coastlines. ## Measurements & details - **Height:** 10-60 cm - **Spread:** 20-50 cm - **Flower Size:** 0.5-1.5 cm - **Bloom Season:** Late spring to fall - **Edible:** Yes - **Toxicity:** None - **Lifecycle:** Annual - **Pollination Method:** Insect ## Ecological connections - **Pollinates:** European honey bee (*Apis mellifera*) — Gathers nectar and pollen from its flowers. - **Pollinates:** Common eastern bumblebee (*Bombus impatiens*) — Visits its blooms for nectar and pollen. - **Eaten by:** Cabbage white butterfly (*Pieris rapae*) — Its caterpillars feed on the leaves. ## Traits - [Flowering](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/flowering): Flowering plants are any plants that produce flowers as part of their reproductive cycle. - [Shrub](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/shrub): A shrub is a woody plant smaller than a tree, typically with multiple stems branching from or near the ground. - [Salt Tolerant](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/salt-tolerant): Salt tolerant plants can withstand and grow in conditions with elevated salinity levels in the soil or water. - [Drought Tolerant](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/drought-tolerant): Drought-tolerant plants can survive and flourish in conditions with limited water availability. - [Edible](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/edible): Edible plants are those parts of a plant that are considered safe for human consumption. - [Pollinator Magnet](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/pollinator-magnet): Describes plants that are particularly attractive and beneficial to a wide range of pollinating organisms. - [Rapid Growing](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/rapid-growing): Rapid growing plants exhibit accelerated growth rates, quickly increasing in size and biomass within a short period. - [Coastal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/coastal): Coastal habitats are dynamic environments located along the interface between land and sea, influenced by tides, waves, and saltwater. ## Collections - [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/plants) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low Always look but don't touch plants unless you know they are safe. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify American searocket? Start with the whole plant, then compare leaf arrangement, leaf edges, stems and any flowers or fruit. Opposite leaves grow in pairs; alternate leaves come one at a time along the stem. These details tell you far more together than a single green leaf does. Plant Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How tall is American searocket? 10-60 cm ### How wide does American searocket spread? 20-50 cm ### How big are the flowers on American searocket? 0.5-1.5 cm ### When does American searocket bloom? Late spring to fall ### Is American searocket edible? Yes ### Is American searocket toxic? None ### What is American searocket's lifecycle? Annual ## Where to spot - [Camp Evans](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/camp-evans) — New Jersey, US · Historic Site - [Cape Lookout Coast Guard Station](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/cape-lookout-coast-guard-station) — US · Historic Site - [New York Aquarium](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/new-york-aquarium-new-york) — New York, US · Aquarium - [Coolidge Reservation](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/coolidge-reservation) — US · Nature Reserve - [Old Harbor Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/old-harbor-historic-district) — Rhode Island, US · Historic District - [Delaware Seashore State Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/delaware-seashore-state-park) — Delaware, US · State Park [View all places to see American searocket](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/american-searocket) ## More Plants - [white snakeroot](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-snakeroot) (*Ageratina altissima*) - [tree-of-heaven](https://www.snappit.app/explore/tree-of-heaven) (*Ailanthus altissima*) - [western sword fern](https://www.snappit.app/explore/western-sword-fern) (*Polystichum munitum*) - [common milkweed](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-milkweed) (*Asclepias syriaca*) --- Source: [American searocket: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/american-searocket)