Background and Aims <p>Understanding the adaptation strategies of plants to heterogeneous environments is crucial for elucidating plant and community distribution and dynamics. Rhizosphere effects (REs) and plant functional traits (PFTs) are key components of plant adaptation strategies, but their synergistic roles remain poorly understood. In this study, we selected <i>Suaeda salsa</i>, the pioneer species in coastal wetlands, to explore its ecological adaptation strategies under complex habitats.</p> Methods <p>We conducted a field experiment in the Yellow River Delta, selecting three sites with distinct salinity gradients. REs, the key PFTs and soil microbial community compositions of rhizosphere soil (RS) and bulk soil (BS) of <i>S. salsa</i> were quantified.</p> Results <p>RS maintained lower soil pH, while higher soil moisture content, NH₄⁺-N content and enzyme activities than BS. Soil microbial communities in RS were also more stabilized and stress-resilient. Concurrently, PFTs shifted under higher salinity. The decreased biomass, together with the increased specific leaf area and sodium to potassium ratio, indicates the impact of salinity on plant growth and physiology. Soil NH₄⁺-N and salinity were the two most important factors affecting the growth of <i>S. salsa</i>. In addition, we found a significantly negative correlation between the rhizosphere effect on soil salinity (minus) and plant individual biomass, which means larger individuals tend to exhibit stronger rhizosphere-mediated responses to salt stress.</p> Conclusions <p>This study demonstrates the multidimensional integration strategy of <i>S. salsa</i> through both rhizosphere optimization and physiological trait plasticity. This mechanistic insight improves understanding of halophyte adaptation and informs strategies for restoring degraded coastal ecosystems.</p>