Cakile edentula
American searocket
(c) Ryan Sorrells, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Brassicaceae · Type: Herb · Not Native
Cakile edentula (American searocket) is a non-native California herb in the Brassicaceae family, recognized by . Key difference is fruit tip shape - flat vs acute conic.
American searocket is a naturalized perennial found in coastal bioregions of California including northern, central, and southern coast regions in beach dunes at elevations below 50 meters. Flowering from May to November, this plant produces white to pale lavender flowers approximately 4.5 to 9.5 millimeters long. Growing with ascending to erect stems up to 80 centimeters tall, it spreads across sandy coastal landscapes. Its cauline leaves are ovate to spoon-shaped, varying in attachment from petioled to sessile. The distinctive fruit is elongated, measuring 1.2 to 2.9 centimeters long with a somewhat flattened terminal segment.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 1 sympatric species. Key difference is fruit tip shape - flat vs acute conic.
Habitat and range
Habitat: Beach dunes
Elevation: < 50 m
Outside California: native to eastern North America
Bloom period
Cakile edentula blooms May-Nov.
How to tell it apart
vs Raphanus: Cakile is completely hairless with corky pods on beaches, Raphanus has hairy stems and non-corky pods.; vs Ambrosia: Cakile has four-petaled mustard flowers and smooth succulent leaves, Ambrosia has tiny composite flowers and divided leaves.; vs Cardamine: Cakile grows on coastal beaches with thick succulent leaves, Cardamine grows inland with thin non-succulent leaves.; vs Coleonema: Cakile has four-petaled flowers and grows on beaches, Coleonema has five-petaled flowers and needle-like leaves.; vs Spergularia: Cakile has four-petaled mustard flowers in racemes, Spergularia has five-petaled pink flowers in clusters.
Frequently asked questions
Is Cakile edentula native to California?
No. Cakile edentula is not native to California (recorded as not native).
When does Cakile edentula bloom?
Cakile edentula blooms May-Nov.
What plant family does Cakile edentula belong to?
Cakile edentula is in the Brassicaceae family, genus Cakile.
What habitat does Cakile edentula grow in?
Cakile edentula grows in Beach dunes.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · CalPhotos
Last updated 2026-10-07
Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Cal-IPC, and more.