Like many in the Orache genus this species is most often found near the coast, actually on the beach or shingle, salt marshes or along the banks of tidal rivers. It also occurs inland in the east of the country. It is quite a distinctive plant with it long green leaves and flowers in a long spike.

It's distribution is markedly eastern in England although it does grow along most of the Welsh coast. It is mostly found on the east coast in Ireland but is almost totally absent from the north west coast of Scotland.

LHS: Banks of River Itchen, Southampton 2nd October 2004 RHS: Lindisfarne (Holy Island) 17th June 2006

Added on 21st October 2004, updated 20th October 2008, updated 1st March 2010