Abundance: common
A cluster of sea rocket plants along the beach in Galveston.
One stem of a sea rocket plant.
Close-up of new growth of the sea rocket (picture taken in February).
The stem and leaves of the sea rocket (picture taken in February).
Close-up of sea rocket's stem and leaves (picture taken in February).
Sea Rocket in summer (June). Seedpods are the dominate structure.
Close-up of Sea Rocket leaves (picture taken in June).
Close-up of Sea Rocket flower.
Texas distribution, attributed to U. S. Department of Agriculture. The marked counties are guidelines only. Plants may appear in other counties, especially if used in landscaping.
North American distribution, attributed to U. S. Department of Agriculture.
Growing out of the sand dunes at the high tide limit, sea rocket plants look almost alien. Their thick stems and leaves help maintain moisture under the hot sun and burning sands. During the winter they are leafy but come summer their seedpods look almost like a weird inland coral or strange cactus.
Those with a well developed "plant eye" would suspect sea rocket falls in the mustard (Brassica) family and they would be right. As with most Brassicas, sea rockets can have a very potent taste. The actual strength of their mustard-flavor does depends on the individual plant's growing conditions.
In summer the plants will display the traditional Brassica flower: four petals in a cross (cruciform) configuration, usually yellow but occasionally white, six stamens (male pollen-producers), and one pistil (female pollen-receiver). The flowers are edible as are the spicy seed pods which follow. As the plants matures the edible succulent leaves become more and more pungent. Sea rockets can be eaten raw and are good with anything you would normally use mustard or horseradish. They add a bit of a kick to salads.
Buy my book! Outdoor Adventure Guides Foraging covers 70 of North America's tastiest and easy to find wild edibles shown with the same big pictures as here on the Foraging Texas website.
What: leaves, flowers, seed pods
How: cooked, raw
Where: sandy coastal beaches
When: spring, summer, fall, winter
Nutritional Value: minerals, vitamins, flavonoids, antioxidants
Dangers: wash well before eating to remove sand, older plants may be quit strongly-flavored
How: cooked, raw
Where: sandy coastal beaches
When: spring, summer, fall, winter
Nutritional Value: minerals, vitamins, flavonoids, antioxidants
Dangers: wash well before eating to remove sand, older plants may be quit strongly-flavored
Leaf Arrangement: The leaves are arranged alternately along the stem.
Leaf Shape: The leaves are fleshy and lobed, often with a wavy or irregular outline, typically measuring about 1 to 3 inches in length.
Leaf Venation: The venation is not prominently visible due to the fleshy nature of the leaves.
Leaf Margin: The margins of the leaves are irregularly lobed.
Leaf Color: The leaves are a green to bluish-green color, sometimes with a purple tinge.
Flower Structure: The flowers are small and borne in clusters at the ends of the stems or in the leaf axils.
Flower Color: The flowers are usually purple or lavender, sometimes white.
Fruit: The plant produces a segmented, elongated fruit that breaks into one-seeded segments when mature.
Seed: Each segment of the fruit contains a single seed.
Stem: The stem is succulent, branching, and can be slightly hairy or smooth.
Hairs: Stem and leaves lack hairs.
Height: Sea rocket typically grows to a height of about 6 to 18 inches.
A cluster of sea rocket plants along the beach in Galveston.
One stem of a sea rocket plant.
Close-up of new growth of the sea rocket (picture taken in February).
The stem and leaves of the sea rocket (picture taken in February).
Close-up of sea rocket's stem and leaves (picture taken in February).
Sea Rocket in summer (June). Seedpods are the dominate structure.
Close-up of Sea Rocket leaves (picture taken in June).
Close-up of Sea Rocket flower.
Texas distribution, attributed to U. S. Department of Agriculture. The marked counties are guidelines only. Plants may appear in other counties, especially if used in landscaping.
North American distribution, attributed to U. S. Department of Agriculture.
Growing out of the sand dunes at the high tide limit, sea rocket plants look almost alien. Their thick stems and leaves help maintain moisture under the hot sun and burning sands. During the winter they are leafy but come summer their seedpods look almost like a weird inland coral or strange cactus.
Those with a well developed "plant eye" would suspect sea rocket falls in the mustard (Brassica) family and they would be right. As with most Brassicas, sea rockets can have a very potent taste. The actual strength of their mustard-flavor does depends on the individual plant's growing conditions.
In summer the plants will display the traditional Brassica flower: four petals in a cross (cruciform) configuration, usually yellow but occasionally white, six stamens (male pollen-producers), and one pistil (female pollen-receiver). The flowers are edible as are the spicy seed pods which follow. As the plants matures the edible succulent leaves become more and more pungent. Sea rockets can be eaten raw and are good with anything you would normally use mustard or horseradish. They add a bit of a kick to salads.
Buy my book! Outdoor Adventure Guides Foraging covers 70 of North America's tastiest and easy to find wild edibles shown with the same big pictures as here on the Foraging Texas website.
