Sporobolus maritimus is a coarse, robust, herbaceous perennial plant growing gregariously from a creeping rootstock.

The plant is 20 to 70 cm (8 to 28 in) tall, green in spring and summer, and turning light brown in autumn and winter.

[3] Sporobolus maritimus is native to the west-facing coasts of Europe and North Africa.

It occupies a range of habitats including very soft mud and shingle, in minimally exposed areas, away from strong wave action.

This then gave rise to a new allotetraploid species Sporobolus anglicus (common cordgrass), which is much more vigorous, and has now largely ousted S. maritimus from much of its native range in Western Europe.