It grows along the coasts, especially in saltmarsh areas, and is known in Britain as "common sea-blite", but as "herbaceous seepweed" in the USA.

Another variety of this polymorphic species is common in tidal zones all around Australia (Suaeda maritima var.

S. aralocaspica, classified in its own section Borszczowia, uses a particular type of C4 photosynthesis without the typical "Kranz" leaf anatomy.

[7][8][9] In the medieval and early post-medieval centuries suaeda was harvested and burned, and the ashes were processed as a source for sodium carbonate for use in glass-making; see glasswort.

It is also eaten as wild greens (quelites), or as edible herbs grown as part of the crop-growing system called milpa.