The genus is native to Europe, Asia and North America, but the European searocket has been introduced into North America and has spread widely on both east and west coasts; in many places it is replacing the native C. edentula, and is regarded as an undesirable invasive species.

Cakile species grow as annual plants with an erect or decumbent stem.

The common species in Europe and North America grow close to the coast, often in dunes.

Each fruit has two sections, one that remains attached to the adult, and the other which that falls off for dispersal by wind or water.

[1] They are rather similar to those of the wild radish (also in family Brassicaceae) which is found in the same regions, and careful attention to the leaves and stems is needed to tell the two plants apart.