It is native to North America, where its main distribution lies along the coastline of the southeastern United States, including the Gulf Coast.

It occurs from New Jersey to Texas, with outlying populations in Connecticut, New York, Mexico, and certain Caribbean islands.

The plant may appear to be leafless at first glance, but what look like sharp-pointed stems are actually stiff leaves rolled tightly to form pointed cylinders.

Therefore, seedlings are most often seen in open, sandy stretches, and rarely in areas with dense vegetation or thick substrates.

The plant grows new shoots and leaves year-round, and does not typically experience seasonal growth spurts.

This species and smooth cordgrass (Spartina alterniflora) are the dominant plants in Mississippi tidal marshes.

In the brackish marsh, plant associates may include sealavender (Limonium carolinianum) and common arrowhead (Sagittaria latifolia).

The ascomycete species Aquamarina speciosa, Keissleriella rara, Massarina carolinensis, and Paraphaeosphaeria pilleata were described from dead or dying stems of this rush.