Annual sea-blite
Suaeda maritima has small fleshy leaves rather than jointed stems.
Use the botanical sourceCulinary reference
Glasswort.
Salicornia europaea
Also found as Marsh samphire · Sea asparagus
A leafless, jointed salt-marsh succulent with bright green segmented stems that taste of the sea.
Sources checked 27 September 2026 · Specialist field review pending
Before any gathering or use
Salt marshes can be polluted; harvest from clean coasts and follow local rules.
Where it grows
Tracked records and known growing zone
- Verified records
- 2,043
- People who recorded it
- 1,082
- Most records (northern hemisphere)
- Jul–Sep
- Records span
- 1989–2026
| January | 12 |
|---|---|
| February | 7 |
| March | 7 |
| April | 51 |
| May | 166 |
| June | 212 |
| July | 399 |
| August | 477 |
| September | 408 |
| October | 232 |
| November | 57 |
| December | 14 |
Research-grade iNaturalist records, snapshot Aug 27, 2026. The growing zone combines areas where different people have repeatedly verified it. Records show where people looked and found it, not current abundance or permission to gather.
01 / Learn to see
Field marks
- 01
Jointed, fleshy green stems with no obvious leaves.
- 02
Stems turn red or purple in autumn.
- 03
Grows in dense stands on tidal mud and salt marsh.
These are study prompts, not a complete identification key. Confirm the full plant with a regional flora and an experienced local identifier.
02 / Resolve the differences
Look closely. Compare.
Selected comparisons only. Other lookalikes may occur locally.
03 / Meet the place
Habitat & season
Range context
Salt marshes of Europe, North America, Asia and North Africa.
Watch the plant stage
Young stems in early to midsummer.
Stage guidance is not a local forecast. Check your climate, elevation and a regional source; no month-shift formula is used here.
04 / Gather with care
Documented use & care
Parts discussed: Young stem
Rinse well and eat raw or blanched. Pull the flesh off woody stems with the teeth.
Care for the patch
Snip tops with scissors and never pull plants; many salt marshes are protected.
Preparation & storage essentials05 / Follow the evidence
Sources & review
- Wikipedia · Salicornia europaeaBotanical description, range and documented use
- iNaturalist · Salicornia europaeaTaxonomy and verified observation records
Checked 27 September 2026. Original editorial synthesis; source institutions have not reviewed or endorsed this guide. Independent botanical field review is pending. Photos illustrate specimens; they do not certify the identity of a plant you find.
Suggest a correction