Suriana maritima is a medium to large shrub with soft or felt like, linear, gray-green leaves, which offset the small cup shaped yellow flowers. Bay Cedar is highly adapted for salty, windy seaside locations with well drained soils, but has very poor frost tolerance. This plant's natural distribution is from coastal central Florida and South Florida through the Caribbean. Bay Cedar requires strong sun exposure and very well-draining soil.

It is a host plant for Martial Scrub Hairstreak and Mallow Scrub Hairstreak butterflies.