Suaeda maritima aka Annual Seablite

Suaeda maritima is an annual in the amaranth family, Amaranthaceae. People call it seablite, seaside goosefoot and white glasswort. Older works placed its genus in Chenopodiaceae, the goosefoot family. Its native range spans central and eastern Canada. It also covers the eastern United States. It extends from Europe to western Siberia, too. Other native areas include Macaronesia and North Africa through Indo-China. The RHS lists it as native to Britain and Ireland. It grows in temperate parts of this wide range.

This small plant reaches about 1 foot (0.3 metres) tall. As an annual, it lives its full life within one year. In the wild, it grows in salt marshes and on sea shores. It often grows below the reach of high spring tides. These sites help explain how it copes with salt and sea winds. Plants For A Future also lists it for cultivated beds. Its low height suits sites that need a small annual.

Flowers appear from July to October. The seeds ripen from August to October. Each flower has both male and female organs. Wind carries the pollen, and the plant is self-fertile. This means it can form seeds without a separate pollen partner. To grow new plants, sow seed in spring where they will grow. Plants For A Future gives this method, called direct sowing.

Choose an open site, since this plant cannot grow in shade. It prefers moist soil, not a dry site. Both sandy and loamy soils suit its needs. The soil can be neutral or alkaline, even strongly alkaline. It also copes with salt in soil and exposure beside the sea. Its care needs make its salt tolerance clear. This does not mean that it needs dry soil. Use its coastal home and need for moisture to guide site choice.

You can eat young leaves fresh or cooked. Their salty taste suits small amounts in salads. Mix them with other vegetables to make a dish less salty. You can pickle young shoots in vinegar for a relish. You can also eat the seeds raw or cooked. Plants For A Future reports no known hazards or medicinal uses. That report does not show that the plant is safe for pets. The plant has a use beyond food, too. Its ash supplies soda used to make glass and soap.