The Seaside Alder is a shrubby small tree or large shrub that grows in the wild in swamps, bottomlands, and along watercourses. It is found in the wild only in three areas: the variety of A, maritima maritima is found in spots in the Delmarva Penninsula; the A. maritima georgiensis is found in northwest Georgia, and the variety of A. maritima oklahomensis is found in two areas of Oklahoma. This species must have had a larger native range in times past, covering over all three recent areas. The glossy leaves are 2.5 to 4 inches long x 1.5 to 2 inches wide. The strobiles are about 1/2 inch long. It can grow in shallow standing water, but also tolerate dry, infertile soils. It is easy to grow from seed. There is a cultivar called "September Sun' that was developed at Iowa State University in Ames, Iowa from the Oklahoma variety from the Blue River area that has a more regular form.

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