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Cakile maritima

European Searocket

Brassicaceae

Coasts of Europe, North Africa, and western Asia

Attracts Pollinators Drought Tolerant

SunFull Sun

WaterLow · drought-tolerant

Overview

Cakile maritima is a sprawling, succulent annual of sandy shores, forming low, branched, fleshy-stemmed mounds 6-18 inches (15-45 cm) tall and up to 24-36 inches (60-90 cm) wide. The thick, smooth leaves are deeply and irregularly lobed, gray-green, and store water against the salt and drought of the beach. Clusters of small four-petaled flowers in pale lilac to white open along the stems from June through September. The flowers give way to two-jointed seed pods: the upper segment breaks off and floats on seawater to colonize new shores, while the lower segment stays on the parent plant. This two-part dispersal lets the species spread along coastlines and establish on bare sand near the high-tide line. The plant tolerates salt spray, blowing sand, and brief saltwater immersion that kill most plants. It is an annual, dying after seed set, and depends on fresh seed each year to maintain beach populations. On some coasts outside its native range it is considered an introduced or weedy species.

Native Range

Native to the coasts of Europe, North Africa, and western Asia, including the Atlantic, Mediterranean, Baltic, and Black Sea shores. Grows on sandy and shingle beaches, dunes, and drift lines near the high-tide mark, and has been introduced to coastlines in North America, Australia, and elsewhere.

Suggested Uses

Grown in coastal and dune gardens, beach restoration, and sand stabilization near the shore, sown directly where it is to grow. Its need for loose sand and salt exposure limits it to seaside settings rather than inland gardens. The succulent foliage is edible in small amounts with a sharp, mustard-like taste.

How to Identify

Recognized by fleshy, gray-green, lobed leaves and a low, branching habit on open sand near the sea. The two-jointed seed pods, with a beaked upper segment that detaches, separate it from other beach mustards. Pale lilac four-petaled flowers and a succulent texture are further marks.

Appearance

Size & Dimensions

Height6" - 1'6"

Width/Spread2' - 3'

Colors

Flower Colors

Foliage Colors

Fall Foliage Colors

Bloom Information

Bloom Period

~16 weeks

Summer Fall

Flowers from June through September, over a long summer season on the beach. The pale lilac flowers are insect-pollinated and also self-fertile, opening a few at a time. Seed pods ripen through late summer and fall, with the upper segments floating away on the tide.

Detailed Descriptions

Flower Description

pale lilac to white

Foliage Description

gray-green

Growing Conditions

Sun Requirements

SunFull Sun

Requires 6-12 hours of direct sunlight daily

• Full Sun: 6+ hours of direct sunlight

• Partial Shade: 3-6 hours of direct sunlight

• Full Shade: Less than 3 hours of direct sunlight

Soil Requirements

pH Range6.5 - 8.5(Alkaline)

357912

Soil Types

sand

Drainagewell drained

Water & Climate

Water Needs

Low

Drought Tolerance

Drought tolerant when established

Care & Maintenance

Care Guide

Grows in full sun on loose, sharp-draining sand and tolerates salt spray, blowing sand, and brief immersion in seawater. It needs the open, disturbed conditions of the drift line and does not compete well with dense vegetation. As an annual, it grows, flowers, and sets seed in a single season and depends on fresh seed each year. It needs no irrigation or feeding in its natural beach setting. Transplanting is difficult because of the deep taproot, so it is grown from seed sown where it is to grow.

Pruning

No pruning is needed for this low annual. Spent plants are left to drop and float their seed, which maintains beach populations. Removing plants before seed set limits spread where it is unwanted outside its native range.