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Glassworts (Salicornia)
Also known as : Marsh sapphires, Sea beans, Sea asparagus
Salicornia are small succulent herbs that thrive in salty environments and commonly grow on beaches, salt marshes, and in mangrove swamps. Many of these herbs are a common source of food for the larvae of various moth species. These plants are widely distributed across most continents but are not found in South America and Australia. 
Lifespan
Annual
Key Facts About Glassworts
Feedback
Attributes of Glassworts
Plant Height
30 cm
Spread
30 cm
Leaf type
Semi-evergreen
Scientific Classification of Glassworts
Phylum
Vascular plants
Class
Dicotyledons
Order
Pinks, cacti, and allies
Family
Amaranth
Genus
Glassworts
Distribution of Glassworts
Feedback
Distribution Map of Glassworts
Native
Cultivated
Invasive
Potentially invasive
Exotic
No species reported
How to Grow and Care for Glassworts
Feedback
The glassworts genus, often called 'samphire' or 'glasswort', is adaptable and thrives in environments with full sun exposure and well-draining soil. Its main care needs involve regular watering, particularly in dry spells, and maintaining exposure to robust sunlight. Typical challenges involve salt burn and handling water-logged soil, due to its high salt tolerance but lower tolerance to waterlogged conditions. In extreme winters, glassworts may need protection. Seasonally, it blooms in summer and early autumn, rendering these periods crucial for monitoring watering needs and light exposure.
How to Water Glassworts?
What Are the Sunlight Requirements for Glassworts?
How to Propagate Glassworts?
How to Plant Glassworts?
Exploring the Glassworts Plants
Feedback
8 most common species：
Glasswort
Glasswort (Salicornia europaea) is an annual succulent that will grow to 41 cm tall. It is multi-branched with fleshy stems. Thought to look like asparagus, it is an edible plant that has made its way into gourmet salads and trendy side dishes. It blooms in late summer and seeds ripen in fall. Blossoms are tiny. Difficult to grow in cultivation; needs full sun and well-drained soil.
Virginia glasswort
The ashes of virginia glasswort were once used in soapmaking and glassmaking due to the presence of soda ash or sodium bicarbonate. This perennial member of the goosefoot family is typically found in salt marshes.
Pacific pickleweed
Salicornia pacifica (or pacific pickleweed) is native to North America. It grows in wetlands and salt-marsh, or coastal areas. It is a slow-growing plant.
Dwarf saltwort
The inflorescence is a dense, sticklike spike of flowers. Each flower is made up of a fused pocket of sepals enclosing the stamens and stigmas, with no petals. The fruit is an utricle containing tiny, fuzzy seeds. The southern part of the species range is represented by the Petenes mangroves of the Yucatán, where it is a subdominant plant associate in the mangroves.
Perennial glasswort
Perennial glasswort is a perennial succulent that thrives in saline environments such as salt marshes and sandy seashores. Its fleshy, jointed stems and scale-like leaves form a bushy, vibrant green silhouette that often turns red with autumn's approach. Adapted to absorb moisture and nutrients in harsh, salty conditions, perennial glasswort serves as both a unique coastal stabilizer and a culinary delight.
Purple glasswort
Purple glasswort is a succulent, salt-tolerant plant often found along coastal marshes and salt flats. This fleshy green plant thrives in high salinity environments, its segmented stems sprawling or erect, culminating in tiny, jointed branches reminiscent of coral. It flourishes in muddy, saline conditions where few other plants can survive, its salt-excreting tissue helping it to manage the osmotic pressure of its harsh habitat. Its unique morphology allows it to both conserve fresh water and tolerate the briny surroundings.
Beaded glasswort
A draping succulent with a beaded texture, beaded glasswort is unusual in that it grows solely on beach cliffs, bluffs, and dunes, having adapted to salty soils. It was formerly burned in Australia and New Zealand to create soda ash, which is used in both soapmaking and glassmaking.
Salicornia quinqueflora subsp. quinqueflora
Salicornia quinqueflora subsp. quinqueflora is a succulent, coastal herb flourishing in saline environments, notably marshes and shores. Its jointed, fleshy, and green to reddish stems give the appearance of miniature cacti, with tiny, scale-like leaves almost merging into the stem. This adaptation minimizes water loss while thriving in salty habitats. It blooms with inconspicuous five-parted flowers that blend with its overall glasswort-like structure.
All Species of Glassworts
Glasswort
Glasswort
Glasswort (Salicornia europaea) is an annual succulent that will grow to 41 cm tall. It is multi-branched with fleshy stems. Thought to look like asparagus, it is an edible plant that has made its way into gourmet salads and trendy side dishes. It blooms in late summer and seeds ripen in fall. Blossoms are tiny. Difficult to grow in cultivation; needs full sun and well-drained soil.
Virginia glasswort
Virginia glasswort
The ashes of virginia glasswort were once used in soapmaking and glassmaking due to the presence of soda ash or sodium bicarbonate. This perennial member of the goosefoot family is typically found in salt marshes.
Pacific pickleweed
Pacific pickleweed
Salicornia pacifica (or pacific pickleweed) is native to North America. It grows in wetlands and salt-marsh, or coastal areas. It is a slow-growing plant.
Dwarf saltwort
Dwarf saltwort
The inflorescence is a dense, sticklike spike of flowers. Each flower is made up of a fused pocket of sepals enclosing the stamens and stigmas, with no petals. The fruit is an utricle containing tiny, fuzzy seeds. The southern part of the species range is represented by the Petenes mangroves of the Yucatán, where it is a subdominant plant associate in the mangroves.
Perennial glasswort
Perennial glasswort
Perennial glasswort is a perennial succulent that thrives in saline environments such as salt marshes and sandy seashores. Its fleshy, jointed stems and scale-like leaves form a bushy, vibrant green silhouette that often turns red with autumn's approach. Adapted to absorb moisture and nutrients in harsh, salty conditions, perennial glasswort serves as both a unique coastal stabilizer and a culinary delight.
Purple glasswort
Purple glasswort
Purple glasswort is a succulent, salt-tolerant plant often found along coastal marshes and salt flats. This fleshy green plant thrives in high salinity environments, its segmented stems sprawling or erect, culminating in tiny, jointed branches reminiscent of coral. It flourishes in muddy, saline conditions where few other plants can survive, its salt-excreting tissue helping it to manage the osmotic pressure of its harsh habitat. Its unique morphology allows it to both conserve fresh water and tolerate the briny surroundings.
Beaded glasswort
Beaded glasswort
A draping succulent with a beaded texture, beaded glasswort is unusual in that it grows solely on beach cliffs, bluffs, and dunes, having adapted to salty soils. It was formerly burned in Australia and New Zealand to create soda ash, which is used in both soapmaking and glassmaking.
Salicornia quinqueflora subsp. quinqueflora
Salicornia quinqueflora subsp. quinqueflora
Salicornia quinqueflora subsp. quinqueflora is a succulent, coastal herb flourishing in saline environments, notably marshes and shores. Its jointed, fleshy, and green to reddish stems give the appearance of miniature cacti, with tiny, scale-like leaves almost merging into the stem. This adaptation minimizes water loss while thriving in salty habitats. It blooms with inconspicuous five-parted flowers that blend with its overall glasswort-like structure.
Salicornia capensis
Salicornia capensis
Salicornia capensis is a coastal succulent known for its fleshy, jointed stems that give it a striking segmented appearance. Adapted to saline environments, its vibrant green to reddish hues and upright, bushy growth reflect a resilience to high salt concentrations typical of salt marshes and sandy dunes where it thrives.
Thick-head glasswort
Thick-head glasswort
Thick-head glasswort is a shrub found in swamps, saltmarshes, and limestone platforms. Like most Salicornia species, the thick-head glasswort is rich in potassium chloride and micronutrients. It is liable to turn red in autumn or if the plant is stressed from too much salt or too little water.
Sarcocornia utahensis
Sarcocornia utahensis
Sarcocornia utahensis is a succulent, salt-tolerant species thriving in the saline soils of coastal and inland salt flats. Featuring fleshy, jointed, and frequently green-to-red stems, it lacks conventional leaves, minimizing water loss. This halophyte's unique adaptation to high-salinity environments allows it to proliferate where few plants can, symbolizing resilience and specialized evolution.
Salicornia perrieri
Salicornia perrieri
Salicornia perrieri is a salt-tolerant succulent that thrives in coastal salt marsh environments, exhibiting fleshy, jointed stems that are reminiscent of asparagus. Its vibrant green coloration often transitions to shades of red or purple. Adapted to high-salinity habitats, salicornia perrieri's specialized morphology allows for efficient water storage and salt regulation, essential for survival in its challenging ecosystem.
More Popular Genus
Feedback
Dracaena
Dracaena are popular house plants that are easy to grow. They can tolerate low-light conditions and require little watering. Their leaves range from variegated to dark green. Their characteristic traits include woody stems that grow slowly but offer a striking appearance for small spaces such as apartments or offices.
Fig trees
Fig trees have been cultivated in many regions for their fruits, particularly the common fig, F. carica. Most of the species have edible fruits, although the common fig is the only one of commercial value. Fig trees are also important food sources for wildlife in the tropics, including monkeys, bats, and insects.
Brambles
Brambles are members of the rose family, and there are hundreds of different types to be found throughout the European countryside. They have been culturally significant for centuries; Christian folklore stories hold that when the devil was thrown from heaven, he landed on a bramble bush. Their vigorous growth habit can tangle into native plants and take over.
Maples
The popular tree family known as maples change the color of their leaves in the fall. Many cultural traditions encourage people to watch the colors change, such as momijigari in Japan. Maples popular options for bonsai art. Alternately, their sap is used to create maple syrup.
Prunus
Prunus is a genus of flowering fruit trees that includes almonds, cherries, plums, peaches, nectarines, and apricots. These are often known as "stone fruits" because their pits are large seeds or "stones." When prunus trees are damaged, they exhibit "gummosis," a condition in which the tree's gum (similar to sap) is secreted to the bark to help heal external wounds.
Nightshades
Nightshades is a large and diverse genus of plants, with more than 1500 different types worldwide. This genus incorporates both important staple food crops like tomato, potato, and eggplant, but also dangerous poisonous plants from the nightshade family. The name was coined by Pliny the Elder almost two thousand years ago.
Roses
Most species of roses are shrubs or climbing plants that have showy flowers and sharp thorns. They are commonly cultivated for cut flowers or as ornamental plants in gardens due to their attractive appearance, pleasant fragrance, and cultural significance in many countries. The rose hips (fruits) can also be used in jams and teas.
Oaks
Oaks are among the world's longest-lived trees, sometimes growing for over 1,000 years! The oldest known oak tree is in the southern United States and is over 1,500 years old. Oaks produce an exceedingly popular type of wood which is used to make different products, from furniture and flooring to wine barrels and even cosmetic creams.
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About
Key Facts
Distribution
How To Care
All Species
More Genus
Glassworts
Salicornia
Also known as: Marsh sapphires, Sea beans, Sea asparagus
Salicornia are small succulent herbs that thrive in salty environments and commonly grow on beaches, salt marshes, and in mangrove swamps. Many of these herbs are a common source of food for the larvae of various moth species. These plants are widely distributed across most continents but are not found in South America and Australia.
Lifespan
Annual
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Key Facts About Glassworts
Feedback
Attributes of Glassworts
Plant Height
30 cm
Spread
30 cm
Leaf type
Semi-evergreen
Scientific Classification of Glassworts
Phylum
Vascular plants Class
Dicotyledons Order
Pinks, cacti, and allies Family
Amaranth Genus
Glassworts Distribution of Glassworts
Feedback
Distribution Map of Glassworts
Native
Cultivated
Invasive
Potentially invasive
Exotic
No species reported
How to Grow and Care for Glassworts
Feedback
The glassworts genus, often called 'samphire' or 'glasswort', is adaptable and thrives in environments with full sun exposure and well-draining soil. Its main care needs involve regular watering, particularly in dry spells, and maintaining exposure to robust sunlight. Typical challenges involve salt burn and handling water-logged soil, due to its high salt tolerance but lower tolerance to waterlogged conditions. In extreme winters, glassworts may need protection. Seasonally, it blooms in summer and early autumn, rendering these periods crucial for monitoring watering needs and light exposure.
How to Water Glassworts?
What Are the Sunlight Requirements for Glassworts?
How to Propagate Glassworts?
How to Plant Glassworts?
Exploring the Glassworts Plants
Feedback
8 most common species：
Glasswort
Glasswort (Salicornia europaea) is an annual succulent that will grow to 41 cm tall. It is multi-branched with fleshy stems. Thought to look like asparagus, it is an edible plant that has made its way into gourmet salads and trendy side dishes. It blooms in late summer and seeds ripen in fall. Blossoms are tiny. Difficult to grow in cultivation; needs full sun and well-drained soil.
Virginia glasswort
The ashes of virginia glasswort were once used in soapmaking and glassmaking due to the presence of soda ash or sodium bicarbonate. This perennial member of the goosefoot family is typically found in salt marshes.
Pacific pickleweed
Salicornia pacifica (or pacific pickleweed) is native to North America. It grows in wetlands and salt-marsh, or coastal areas. It is a slow-growing plant.
Dwarf saltwort
The inflorescence is a dense, sticklike spike of flowers. Each flower is made up of a fused pocket of sepals enclosing the stamens and stigmas, with no petals. The fruit is an utricle containing tiny, fuzzy seeds. The southern part of the species range is represented by the Petenes mangroves of the Yucatán, where it is a subdominant plant associate in the mangroves.
Show More Species
All Species of Glassworts
More Popular Genus
Feedback
Dracaena
Dracaena are popular house plants that are easy to grow. They can tolerate low-light conditions and require little watering. Their leaves range from variegated to dark green. Their characteristic traits include woody stems that grow slowly but offer a striking appearance for small spaces such as apartments or offices.
Fig trees
Fig trees have been cultivated in many regions for their fruits, particularly the common fig, F. carica. Most of the species have edible fruits, although the common fig is the only one of commercial value. Fig trees are also important food sources for wildlife in the tropics, including monkeys, bats, and insects.
Brambles
Brambles are members of the rose family, and there are hundreds of different types to be found throughout the European countryside. They have been culturally significant for centuries; Christian folklore stories hold that when the devil was thrown from heaven, he landed on a bramble bush. Their vigorous growth habit can tangle into native plants and take over.
Maples
The popular tree family known as maples change the color of their leaves in the fall. Many cultural traditions encourage people to watch the colors change, such as momijigari in Japan. Maples popular options for bonsai art. Alternately, their sap is used to create maple syrup.
Prunus
Prunus is a genus of flowering fruit trees that includes almonds, cherries, plums, peaches, nectarines, and apricots. These are often known as "stone fruits" because their pits are large seeds or "stones." When prunus trees are damaged, they exhibit "gummosis," a condition in which the tree's gum (similar to sap) is secreted to the bark to help heal external wounds.
Nightshades
Nightshades is a large and diverse genus of plants, with more than 1500 different types worldwide. This genus incorporates both important staple food crops like tomato, potato, and eggplant, but also dangerous poisonous plants from the nightshade family. The name was coined by Pliny the Elder almost two thousand years ago.
Roses
Most species of roses are shrubs or climbing plants that have showy flowers and sharp thorns. They are commonly cultivated for cut flowers or as ornamental plants in gardens due to their attractive appearance, pleasant fragrance, and cultural significance in many countries. The rose hips (fruits) can also be used in jams and teas.
Oaks
Oaks are among the world's longest-lived trees, sometimes growing for over 1,000 years! The oldest known oak tree is in the southern United States and is over 1,500 years old. Oaks produce an exceedingly popular type of wood which is used to make different products, from furniture and flooring to wine barrels and even cosmetic creams.
Your Ultimate Guide to Plants
Identify grow and nurture the better way!
17,000 local species +400,000 global species studied
Nearly 5 years of research
80+ scholars in botany and gardening
Continue reading in our app - it's better
A database of 400000+ plants
unlimited guides at your fingertips...
unlimited guides at your fingertips...
