Flower profile
European searocket
Cakile maritima
European searocket (Cakile maritima) is a flowering plant in the Brassicaceae family, introduced in the lower 48 states, blooming mostly June–October across the U.S.
European searocket is a wildflower that USDA PLANTS lists as introduced in the lower 48 states. In California it's most often seen in bloom in May–September.
*iNaturalist research-grade observations, as of October 17, 2026.
On our lists for: California
Quick look
Cakile maritima, sea rocket or European searocket, is a common plant in the mustard family Brassicaceae. It is widespread in Europe, North Africa and western Asia, especially on coastlines. It can now be found in many other areas of the world where it has been introduced. It is present on the west and east coasts of North America, where it has the potential to become an invasive species.
- It belongs to the Brassicaceae family. iNaturalist
- USDA PLANTS describes it as an herb (forb) with a annual, perennial life cycle. USDA PLANTS
- USDA PLANTS lists it as introduced in the lower 48 states and records it in 11 states. USDA PLANTS
- NatureServe lists it as not native to California. NatureServe
- In California, most iNaturalist sightings of it in flower come in May–September. iNaturalist
- iNaturalist has 11,934 research-grade sightings of it in California, ranking #72 among the 178 flowers on our California list. iNaturalist
When does it bloom?
In California, most flowering sightings come in May–September.
Conservation status
- Federal (U.S. ESA)
- Not listed No U.S. Endangered Species Act listing in the USFWS ECOS database. USFWS ECOS
- NatureServe global
- GNR Not yet ranked worldwide. NatureServe
- California
- Not listed Not on California state-listed endangered, threatened and rare plants (14 CCR § 670.2), per CDFW's CNDDB list (July 2026). NatureServe: SNA, not applicable (usually because it isn't native there) in California. CNDDB listed plants (July 2026)
- Rare elsewhere
- No other U.S. state ranks it S1, S2, SH or SX.
Checked October 17, 2026. Rankings and lists can change, so follow the links for the latest.
Can you eat it?
None of the sources we checked (NC State Extension (no page for this plant), USDA PLANTS) say whether it's edible or poisonous for people.
It isn't on the ASPCA plant list.
🌿 Never eat a wild plant unless you're certain of its ID; this isn't medical advice. Worried about a person? Call Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222. Worried about a pet? Call your vet.
Where does it grow?
USDA PLANTS records European searocket in 11 states.
recorded by USDA PLANTS on our state lists not recorded
See the full list of states
Alabama, California, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Texas, Virginia, Washington.
California counties with USDA records: Alameda, Contra Costa, Del Norte, Humboldt, Los Angeles, Marin, Mendocino, Monterey, Orange, San Diego, San Francisco, San Luis Obispo, San Mateo, Santa Barbara, Santa Cruz, Sonoma, Ventura.
Names, range and relatives
Native status by region (USDA PLANTS): Canada: Introduced; Lower 48 states: Introduced.
Other scientific names (synonyms in USDA PLANTS): Cakile cakile.
County records: USDA PLANTS lists it in 43 counties across 7 states; the most are in California (17), Oregon (8), Virginia (8).
Other Cakile on Bloomipedia (1): American searocket.
More from the Brassicaceae family (24 on Bloomipedia; most observed first): Garlic mustard, Dame's rocket, Cut-leaved toothwort, Wild radish, Milkmaids, Annual honesty, Western wallflower, Hoary alyssum.
More California flowers
Sources
- USDA, NRCS. PLANTS Database, profile CAMA.
- iNaturalist, Cakile maritima: taxonomy, research-grade observation counts and “Flowering” annotations, retrieved October 17, 2026.
- Wikipedia, Cakile maritima (lead quoted under CC BY-SA 4.0).
- California: California state-listed endangered, threatened and rare plants (14 CCR § 670.2), per CDFW's CNDDB list (July 2026).
- California: California noxious weed species (3 CCR § 4500).
- USFWS, ECOS species database (ESA listing check), October 17, 2026.
- NatureServe Explorer, Cakile maritima (global and state ranks).
- Edibility and toxicity: no source found (marked "not well documented").
- Photo: Zoltán Stekkelpak via iNaturalist · CC0 · resized.