It is not rare. Lobelia anceps grows along the edge of the sea. Salt spray and wind would kill most plants. Shore lobelia spreads across sand dunes and saltmarshes anyway. It forms a low, dense mat. The leaves are small and fleshy. They are sometimes tinged with purple. They are thick and succulent, adapted to store water. The stems creep along the ground, rooting at nodes. The flowers are small, pale blue or white. They have two lips. They appear in summer. Lobelia anceps grows in saltmarshes, on sand dunes, on coastal cliffs. It likes wet feet. It tolerates salt. It is often found just above the high tide mark. The plant is an important stabiliser of coastal soils. Its creeping stems hold sand in place. Its roots bind the ground. The species is native to New Zealand, Australia, and the Pacific. It belongs in coastal areas throughout the region. The name anceps means two-edged or ambiguous. It refers to the flattened stems. The plant has a distinctive appearance. In gardens, Lobelia anceps is valued as a coastal ground cover. It tolerates salt spray. It does not need much water. It is a good choice for seaside gardens. Shore lobelia is not threatened. It is common along the coast. But coastal development is reducing its habitat. Climate change and sea level rise may also affect it. Invasive plants that outcompete native ground covers are another threat. The flowers attract native bees. The leaves provide cover for small lizards. The plant is part of the coastal ecosystem. Lobelia anceps is a reminder. The edges of the land have their own plants. Adapted. Resilient. Native. Lobelia anceps has no widely recognised Māori name. The plant grows in coastal areas, which were important resource zones for Māori. It would have been known as a saltmarsh plant, part of the coastal ecosystem that provided food and materials. No one told it otherwise.