ExplorePlants

European Searocket

Cakile maritima

The European Searocket is a special plant that grows by the sea. It has beautiful purple flowers and can survive in sandy, salty places where few other plants can grow.

Habitat: Coastal areas

Appearance

The European Searocket is a sprawling plant with fleshy, deeply lobed green leaves. It has small, four-petaled flowers, typically pale purple to white, growing in clusters. Its distinctive, rocket-shaped seed pods make it stand out on sandy shores.

KingdomPlantaePhylumTracheophytaClassMagnoliopsidaOrderBrassicalesFamilyBrassicaceaeGenusCakile
European Searocket
flowering trait badgeshrub trait badgesummer_blooming trait badgefragrant_flower trait badge
European Searocket

Category

Plants

Rarity

Common

Danger

1/5 · Very low

Snaps

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Interesting facts

It's a champion colonizer, often the first plant to sprout on newly formed sand dunes!

Its common name comes from its rocket-shaped seed pods, not because it flies!

Some people call its leaves 'sea mustard' because they taste a bit peppery!

This tough plant can even withstand being partially buried by shifting sands and survive!

Special abilities

Ability

Salt Solver

European Searocket can thrive in salty sand by storing and releasing excess salt, allowing it to grow where other plants struggle.

Ability

Ocean Voyager

European Searocket has buoyant, corky seed pods that float on ocean currents, spreading its seeds to new beaches far away.

Ability

Quick Grower

European Searocket can grow fast and produce seeds quickly, helping it survive in unstable, shifting coastal environments.

Measurements & details

Height
10-60 cm
Spread
20-50 cm
Flower Size
0.5-1 cm
Bloom Season
Late spring to early fall
Edible
Yes
Toxicity
None
Lifecycle
Annual
Pollination Method
Insect

Ecological connections

pollinates

Western Honey Bee

Apis mellifera

Honey bees visit its flowers for nectar.

pollinates

Buff-tailed Bumblebee

Bombus terrestris

Bumblebees are important pollinators of its small flowers.

eaten by

European Rabbit

Oryctolagus cuniculus

Rabbits often browse on its leaves in dune areas.

eats

Searocket Plant Bug

Ficobrissus fasciatus

Specialized bugs feed on its leaves and sap.

Traits

Also known as

No aliases listed yet.

Collections

Safety

Danger

1/5 · Very low

Be careful not to pick too many plants, as they help the beach stay healthy!

Frequently Asked Questions

How tall is European Searocket?

10-60 cm

How wide does European Searocket spread?

20-50 cm

How big are the flowers on European Searocket?

0.5-1 cm

When does European Searocket bloom?

Late spring to early fall

Is European Searocket edible?

Yes

Is European Searocket toxic?

None

What is European Searocket's lifecycle?

Annual

How is European Searocket pollinated?

Insect

Snap Map

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Where to spot

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