Woody stems prostrate to procumbent, creeping and usually rooting, often forming mats to 1 m diam.; with numerous, erect stems, simple or sparingly branched, 10-20(-30) cm, larger fleshy segments 10-25 × 2-3 mm. Terminal spikes: larger with 7-14 fertile segments, 10-25 mm. Fertile segments: larger ones 1.6-3.1 × 2.9-4.4 mm; central flowers 1.3-2.8 × 1.3-2.7 mm; anthers 0.8-1 mm. Seeds 1.1-1.3 mm, pubescent; hairs strongly curved or hooked, most exceeding 1 mm, slender. 2n = 18.

Flowering late summer-early fall. Salt marshes and tidal flats; 0 m; B.C.; Alaska, Oreg., Wash.; s, w Europe; sw Asia; n, s Africa.

Sarcocornia perennis has also been reported from the coasts of the northeastern United States, but most of these plants appear to be depauperate individuals of S. pacifica. However it is possible that some plants from New England are S. perennis, and further study is needed to determine the precise distinction between S. perennis and S. pacifica.