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Sea Purslane, Sea Pickle, Shoreline Seapurslane - Sesuvium portulacastrum


Family: Aizoaceae - Fig-marigold family Genus Common Name: Sea Purslane Native Status: NativeDicot Perennial Herb
Sesuvium portulacastrum - Sea Purslane, Sea Pickle, Shoreline Seapurslane. This is a prostrate, succulent herbaceous plant of dunes and beaches along the coast of the Gulf of Mexico and the southeastern Atlantic Coast. The stems and leaves are edible, and have a salty pickel-like flavor, giving it the alternate common name of Sea Pickle.

Found in:
AL, FL, GA, HI, LA, MS, NC, PA, SC, TX

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Sesuvium portulacastrum

Distribution of Sesuvium portulacastrum in the United States and Canada:
USDA Map temporarily unavailable.
Blue=Native; Grey=Introduced

Map from USDA Plants Database:
USDA, NRCS. 2017. The PLANTS Database (http://plants.usda.gov, 16 Jan 2025). National Plant Data Team, Greensboro, NC 27401-4901 USA.

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Site: Pinellas County, Ft. De Soto County Park Date: 2011-December-19Photographer: Gerald C. Williamson
Nikon D7000
The small flowers of Sea Purslane have pink to sepals which are green on the outside but pink to magenta on the inside, which along with the many stamens gives them an attractive appearance.
Sesuvium portulacastrum
Site: Pinellas County, Ft. De Soto County Park Date: 2011-December-19Photographer: Gerald C Williamson
Nikon D7000
The stems are initially green but turn red. The green leaves are paddle-shaped and succulent. The plants usually has many branches and spreads along the ground, with stems up to about 2 feet long. The plant roots at the stem joints, and will form a loose mat, frequently mixed in with other shoreline plants.
Click on the photo for a larger image
Sesuvium portulacastrum
References used for identification and information:
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Sesuvium portulacastrum initially published on USWildflowers.com 2011-12-26; Updated 2015-06-24

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