Alaria esculanta is native only to the North Atlantic, especially to the coasts of Ireland and Great Britain. Other Alaria species are distributed worldwide.

Alaria grows up to two metres long and consists of a flat leathery leaf with a firm midrib.

Large quantities of Alaria from wild collection are harvested on the coasts of Ireland. The cultivation of Alaria on ropes off the coasts of Norway, the Faroe Islands and France is technically very advanced. The plants are harvested after only 4 months in the water and are very tender and free of fouling and marine life.