# Western Seapurslane (*Sesuvium verrucosum*)

Western Seapurslane is a fun, green plant that grows near the ocean! It has thick, fleshy leaves and pretty little flowers that can be pink or purple. This plant loves salty air and sandy soil.

- **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant)
- **Rarity:** Common
- **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low
- **Habitat:** Coastal areas

![Western Seapurslane](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Sesuviumverrucosum.jpg&width=800)

Photo: Stephen Laymon, Bureau of Land Management, Public domain · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Sesuviumverrucosum.jpg)

## Appearance

The Western Seapurslane is a low-growing, sprawling succulent plant. It has thick, fleshy, bright green leaves that often turn reddish or purplish, and reddish stems. Its small, star-shaped flowers are typically purplish-pink, distinguishing it with its vibrant, succulent appearance.

## Taxonomy

- **Kingdom:** Plantae
- **Phylum:** Tracheophyta
- **Class:** Magnoliopsida
- **Order:** Caryophyllales
- **Family:** Aizoaceae
- **Genus:** Sesuvium

## Interesting facts

- It produces tiny, shiny black seeds that are a food source for some wildlife!
- Its leaves are sometimes called 'sea pickle' because they're crunchy and salty!
- This amazing plant can actually help stabilize sandy coastal dunes!
- When stressed, its usually green leaves can turn a beautiful reddish-purple!

## Special abilities

- **Salt-Loving Survivor:** Western Seapurslane can grow in very salty soils and tolerate brackish water, helping it thrive where most plants cannot.
- **Water Hoarder:** Western Seapurslane has thick, succulent leaves that store precious water, helping it survive in dry, arid coastal environments.
- **Rapid Spreader:** Western Seapurslane can quickly root along its creeping stems, helping it form dense mats and colonize open areas.

## Measurements & details

- **Height:** 5-30 cm
- **Spread:** 30-100 cm
- **Flower Size:** 0.5-1.5 cm
- **Bloom Season:** Summer-fall
- **Edible:** Yes
- **Toxicity:** None
- **Lifecycle:** Perennial
- **Pollination Method:** Insect

## Ecological connections

- **Pollinates:** Honey Bee (*Apis mellifera*) — visits flowers for nectar and pollen.
- **Eaten by:** [Song Sparrow](https://www.snappit.app/explore/song-sparrow) (*Melospiza melodia*) — forages for seeds from the plant.
- **Symbiotic with:** [Saltgrass](https://www.snappit.app/explore/saltgrass) (*Distichlis spicata*) — co-exists in salt-tolerant coastal habitats.

## Traits

- [Flowering](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/flowering): Flowering plants are any plants that produce flowers as part of their reproductive cycle.
- [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.
- [Marine](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/marine): Marine habitats encompass all saltwater environments of the Earth's oceans, supporting an immense diversity of aquatic life.

## Collections

- [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/plants)

## Safety

**Danger:** 1/5 · Very low

Always look but don't touch plants without asking an adult first.

## Frequently Asked Questions

### How to identify Western Seapurslane?

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 Western Seapurslane?

5-30 cm

### How wide does Western Seapurslane spread?

30-100 cm

### How big are the flowers on Western Seapurslane?

0.5-1.5 cm

### When does Western Seapurslane bloom?

Summer-fall

### Is Western Seapurslane edible?

Yes

### Is Western Seapurslane toxic?

None

### What is Western Seapurslane's lifecycle?

Perennial

## 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*)

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Source: [Western Seapurslane: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/western-seapurslane)