It has a subcosmopolitan distribution in temperate and Arctic regions, native to most of Europe, northwest Africa, northern and central Asia, northern North America, and southern South America.

[3][4] It is a herbaceous perennial plant with a dense rosette of leaves without petioles.

Each leaf is linear, 2–22 cm long and under 1 cm broad, thick and fleshy-textured, with an acute apex and a smooth or distantly toothed margin; there are three to five veins.

[5][6][7] There are four subspecies:[4][7] In much of the range it is strictly coastal, growing on sandy soils.

[8][9] Like samphires, the leaves of the plant are harvested to be eaten raw or cooked.