# sea purslane (*Sesuvium portulacastrum*) Sea purslane is a fun, green plant that grows near the beach! It has thick, juicy leaves and pretty little flowers. This plant loves salty air and can even grow in sandy soil. - **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Snaps:** 3 - **Habitat:** Coastal areas ![sea purslane](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Sesuvium_p.jpg&width=800) Photo: by Eric Guinther ( Marshman at en.wikipedia ), CC BY-SA 3.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Sesuvium_p.jpg) ## Appearance The sea purslane has thick, fleshy, bright green to reddish succulent leaves and stems that creep along the ground. It features small, star-shaped flowers that are typically pink or magenta, creating a vibrant contrast against its robust foliage. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Plantae - **Phylum:** Tracheophyta - **Class:** Magnoliopsida - **Order:** Caryophyllales - **Family:** Aizoaceae - **Genus:** Sesuvium ## Interesting facts - In several cultures, its fresh leaves are a tasty addition to salads or cooked like spinach! - Its tiny seeds can float for months, helping sea purslane spread to distant beaches worldwide! - Some people call it "pickleweed" because its salty leaves taste surprisingly tangy and crunchy! - This amazing plant helps prevent sand dunes from washing away during strong storms and winds! ## Special abilities - **Salt Shield:** Sea purslane thrives in salty soil by storing and shedding excess salt in its leaves. - **Water Reserve:** Sea purslane has thick, succulent leaves that store precious water, helping it survive dry coastal conditions. - **Creeping Colonizer:** Sea purslane spreads by rooting new plants from its stems wherever they touch the ground. - **Sand Stabilizer:** Its sprawling roots and stems help to anchor loose sand, preventing erosion on fragile coastlines. ## Measurements & details - **Height:** 10-30 cm - **Spread:** 50-150 cm - **Flower Size:** 0.5-1 cm - **Bloom Season:** Summer-Fall - **Edible:** Yes - **Toxicity:** None - **Lifecycle:** Perennial - **Pollination Method:** Insect ## Ecological connections - **Pollinates:** European honey bee (*Apis mellifera*) — collects nectar from its flowers - **Shelter:** Annulate fiddler crab (*Uca annulipes*) — hides among its dense growth - **Eaten by:** Oriental leafworm moth (*Spodoptera litura*) — larvae feed on its succulent leaves ## Traits - [Flowering](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/flowering): Flowering plants are any plants that produce flowers as part of their reproductive cycle. - [Evergreen](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/evergreen): Evergreen plants retain their foliage throughout the year, never shedding all their leaves at once. - [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. - [Succulent](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/succulent): Succulent plants have thickened, fleshy parts, usually leaves or stems, adapted to store water in arid climates. - [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. - [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 explore plants with an adult and never eat anything you find without asking. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify sea purslane? 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 sea purslane? 10-30 cm ### How wide does sea purslane spread? 50-150 cm ### How big are the flowers on sea purslane? 0.5-1 cm ### When does sea purslane bloom? Summer-Fall ### Is sea purslane edible? Yes ### Is sea purslane toxic? None ### What is sea purslane's lifecycle? Perennial ## Where to spot - [Hickam Air Force Base](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/hickam-air-force-base) — Hawaii, US · Historic Site - [Lihue Civic Center Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/lihue-civic-center-historic-district) — Hawaii, US · Historic District - [Maui Nui Botanical Gardens](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/maui-nui-botanical-gardens) — Hawaii, US · Botanical Garden - [Curry Hammock State Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/curry-hammock-state-park) — Florida, US · State Park - [Sandsprit Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/sandsprit-park) — Florida, US · Park - [Cayo Costa State Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/cayo-costa-state-park) — Florida, US · State Park [View all places to see sea purslane](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/sea-purslane) ## 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: [Sea Purslane: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/sea-purslane)