Brass buttons is a pioneer plant, found on brackish to silty clay and peat soils which stand under water in the winter and are dry but not dried up in the summer. Water fowl and shore birds help to spread the seeds by carrying the fruits in their mud-covered feet.

The seeds will not germinate in water. This can be a saving grace during severe winters. The seeds are the only part of the plant that will survive the cold. Should new plants form in the autumn, they will be killed if the temperatures drop below freezing. However, seeds covered in water will survive to germinate in the spring. The seeds remain vital for a year, so as long as the ground stays moist, brass buttons will grow. If the soil dries up, brass buttons will disappear.