Translate this page:
Summary
A petite coastal/inland annual—serviceable as a boiled green where it’s abundant. Low, native annual of southern California’s saline/disturbed sites. Noted for prominent bracts (“bract-scale”) around the fruiting bodies. General Atriplex cautions: Atriplex species often accumulate oxalates, nitrates, selenium, and salts. Favor young leaves, boil and discard cooking water if harsh, and keep portions moderate—especially for people with kidney issues or on low-oxalate/low-sodium diets. Seeds are generally safer than leaves, but the bractlets/utricles range from papery to very tough; plan on threshing, winnowing, grinding, and sometimes pre-boiling to get a pleasant result.
Physical Characteristics
Atriplex serenana is a ANNUAL growing to 3 m (9ft 10in).
See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 8. It is in flower from July to August, and the seeds ripen from August to September. The species is monoecious (individual flowers are either male or female, but both sexes can be found on the same plant) and is pollinated by Wind.
Suitable for: light (sandy) and medium (loamy) soils, prefers well-drained soil and can grow in nutritionally poor soil. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils and can grow in very alkaline and saline soils.
It cannot grow in the shade. It prefers dry or moist soil and can tolerate drought. The plant can tolerate maritime exposure.
UK Hardiness Map
US Hardiness Map
Synonyms
A. bracteosa. S. Wats.
Plant Habitats
Cultivated Beds;
Edible Uses
Edible Parts: Leaves Seed
Edible Uses: Condiment
Edibility (summary & rating). Leaves used as a potherb by the Kawaiisu. Expect a salty or bitter taste; boil to tame it. Edibility rating: 3/5 (workable boiled green in small portions). Parts used & preparation. Leaves: Harvest tender growth; boil (one or more water changes if very salty); use as a side green. Seeds: Not documented in your notes; treat as with other Atriplex if attempted. Leaves and young plants - cooked. They are usually boiled with other foods as a salty flavouring[161, 177, 257]. Seed - cooked. Used in piñole or ground into a meal and used as a thickener in making bread, or mixed with flour in making bread. Traditional uses. Kawaiisu boiled greens. Harvest tips. Favor pre-flowering leaves; if strongly briny, blanch and refresh in clean water before final cooking.
References More on Edible Uses
Medicinal Uses
Plants For A Future can not take any responsibility for any adverse effects from the use of plants. Always seek advice from a professional before using a plant medicinally.
None known
References More on Medicinal Uses
The Bookshop: Edible Plant Books
Our Latest books on Perennial Plants For Food Forests and Permaculture Gardens in paperback or digital formats.
Edible Tropical Plants
Food Forest Plants for Hotter Conditions: 250+ Plants For Tropical Food Forests & Permaculture Gardens.
More
Edible Temperate Plants
Plants for Your Food Forest: 500 Plants for Temperate Food Forests & Permaculture Gardens.
More
More Books
PFAF have eight books available in paperback and digital formats. Browse the shop for more information.
Shop Now
Other Uses
References More on Other Uses
Cultivation details
Season & phenology. Can bloom spring through autumn depending on moisture. Identification notes. Small annual, scurfy foliage; conspicuous, often broad bracts enclosing the utricles; stays low to the ground. Habitat & distribution. Coastal/inland saline flats, disturbed soils in southern California. Growing conditions & cultivation. Full sun; drought/salt tolerant; light, alkaline soils; minimal water. Hardiness. Warm-season annual; reseeds in USDA 8–11 (and warmer parts of 7). Size & habit. 10–30 cm tall, mounding patches. Weed potential. Low–moderate. Opportunistic in disturbed salt patches but not typically aggressive. Lookalikes & cautions. Other small oraches; apply oxalate/nitrate precautions.
References Carbon Farming Information and Carbon Sequestration Information
Temperature Converter
Type a value in the Celsius field to convert the value to Fahrenheit:
Fahrenheit:
The PFAF Bookshop
Plants For A Future have a number of books available in paperback and digital form. Book titles include Edible Plants, Edible Perennials, Edible Trees,Edible Shrubs, Woodland Gardening, and Temperate Food Forest Plants. Our new book is Food Forest Plants For Hotter Conditions (Tropical and Sub-Tropical).
Shop Now
Plant Propagation
Propagation. By seed; surface-sow or cover very lightly; good drainage and warmth.
Other Names
If available other names are mentioned here
Atriplex serenana — Bractscale
Native Range
NORTHERN AMERICA: United States (California, Nevada (west)), Mexico (Baja California (Norte))
Weed Potential
Right plant wrong place. We are currently updating this section.
Please note that a plant may be invasive in one area but may not in your area so it's worth checking.
Low–moderate. Opportunistic in disturbed salt patches but not typically aggressive.
Conservation Status
IUCN Red List of Threatened Plants Status :
| Related Plants
|
| Latin Name | Common Name | Habit | Height | Hardiness | Growth | Soil | Shade | Moisture | Edible | Medicinal | Other |
| Atriplex argentea | Silvery Orach, Silverscale saltbush, Stalked saltbush | Annual | 0.5 |
4-9
| | LM | N | M | 3 | 2 | 2 |
| Atriplex argentea expansa | Silverscale Saltbush | Annual | 0.6 |
-
| | LM | N | M | 2 | 0 | |
| Atriplex californica | California Orach, California saltbush | Perennial | 0.1 |
7-10
| M | LM | N | DM | 3 | 0 | 3 |
| Atriplex canescens | Grey Sage Brush, Fourwing saltbush | Shrub | 1.8 |
3-9
| M | LM | N | DM | 3 | 1 | 3 |
| Atriplex carnosa | Thickleaf Orach | Annual | 0.9 |
-
| | LM | N | DM | 2 | 0 | |
| Atriplex cinerea | Grey Saltbush | Shrub | 2.0 |
9-11
| M | LM | N | DM | 3 | 0 | 3 |
| Atriplex confertifolia | Shadscale, Shadscale saltbush | Shrub | 1.5 |
4-9
| M | LM | N | DM | 3 | 1 | 2 |
| Atriplex coronata | Crownscale | Annual | 0.4 |
-
| | LM | N | DM | 2 | 0 | |
| Atriplex dimorphostegia | | Annual | 0.2 |
-
| | LM | N | DM | 2 | 0 | |
| Atriplex elegans | Wheelscale Saltbush | Annual | 0.2 |
0-0
| | LM | N | DM | 3 | 0 | 1 |
| Atriplex glabriuscula | Scotland orache, Maritime saltbush, Frankton's saltbush, Northeastern saltbush | Annual | 0.3 |
0-0
| | LM | N | DM | 2 | 0 | |
| Atriplex gmelinii | Gmelin's saltbush | Annual | 0.5 |
0-0
| | LM | N | DM | 2 | 0 | |
| Atriplex halimus | Sea Orach, Saltbush | Shrub | 2.0 |
7-10
| M | LM | N | DM | 5 | 1 | 3 |
| Atriplex hastata | Hastate Orach | Annual | 0.8 |
0-0
| | LM | N | DM | 3 | 0 | 2 |
| Atriplex hortensis | Orach, Garden orache | Annual | 1.8 |
5-9
| F | LM | N | M | 4 | 2 | 3 |
| Atriplex lapathifolia | | Annual | 0.9 |
-
| | LM | N | DM | 3 | 0 | |
| Atriplex lentiformis | Quail Bush, Big saltbush, Quailbush, | Shrub | 3.0 |
8-11
| M | LM | N | DM | 2 | 1 | 3 |
| Atriplex littoralis | Grassleaf orache | Biennial | 0.7 |
4-11
| F | LMH | N | DM | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Atriplex maximowicziana | Maximowicz's saltbush | Perennial | 0.8 |
0-0
| | LM | N | DM | 2 | 0 | |
| Atriplex mucronata | | Annual | 0.4 |
-
| | LMH | N | DM | 2 | 0 | |
| Atriplex nummularia | Giant Saltbush, Bluegreen saltbush | Shrub | 3.5 |
7-10
| M | LM | N | DM | 3 | 2 | 3 |
| Atriplex nuttallii | Nuttall's Saltbush | Shrub | 0.9 |
5-9
| M | LM | N | DM | 4 | 0 | 2 |
| Atriplex obovata | Mound Saltbrush | Shrub | 1.0 |
5-9
| M | LMH | N | DM | 3 | 0 | 3 |
| Atriplex patula | Spreading Orach, Spear saltbush | Annual | 0.8 |
0-0
| | LM | N | M | 3 | 1 | 0 |
| Atriplex polycarpa | Cattle spinach | Shrub | 1.0 |
8-10
| M | LM | N | DM | 1 | 0 | 4 |
| Atriplex powellii | Powell's Saltweed | Annual | 0.7 |
4-9
| | LM | N | DM | 3 | 0 | 2 |
| Atriplex rosea | Tumbling or redscale saltweed | Annual | 0.6 |
3-10
| F | LM | N | DM | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| Atriplex saccaria | Sack Saltbush | Annual | 0.3 |
5-9
| | LM | N | DM | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| Atriplex semibaccata | Australian Saltbush. Australian saltbush, Creeping saltbush | Shrub | 0.5 |
8-11
| F | LMH | N | DM | 3 | 0 | 3 |
|
|
Growth: S = slow M = medium F = fast. Soil: L = light (sandy) M = medium H = heavy (clay). pH: A = acid N = neutral B = basic (alkaline). Shade: F = full shade S = semi-shade N = no shade. Moisture: D = dry M = Moist We = wet Wa = water.
Now available:
Food Forest Plants for Mediterranean Conditions
350+ Perennial Plants For Mediterranean and Drier Food Forests and Permaculture Gardens.
[Paperback and eBook]
This is the third in Plants For A Future's series of plant guides for food forests tailored to
specific climate zones. Following volumes on temperate and tropical ecosystems, this book focuses
on species suited to Mediterranean conditions—regions with hot, dry summers and cool, wet winters,
often facing the added challenge of climate change.
Read More
Expert comment
Author
A.Nels.
Botanical References
71270
Links / References
For a list of references used on this page please go here
Readers comment
| Add a comment |
|
If you have important information about this plant that may help other users please add a comment or link below. Only comments or links that are felt to be directly relevant to a plant will be included. If you think a comment/link or information contained on this page is inaccurate or misleading we would welcome your feedback at [email protected]. If you have questions about a plant please use the Forum on this website as we do not have the resources to answer questions ourselves.
* Please note: the comments by website users are not necessarily those held by PFAF and may give misleading or inaccurate information.
To leave a comment please Register or login here All comments need to be approved so will not appear immediately.
|
Subject : Atriplex serenana
|
|
|
|