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Summary
Many species of the genus Atriplex have edible leaves. Their common name derives from their ability to retain salt in the leaves, giving them a pleasant salty taste. They can grow in areas with high soil salinity. The leaves are cooked and used as greens. The seeds are used in piñole, ground into a meal, thickened in bread, or mixed with flour. Saltbush is often used for erosion control, as a windbreak, and for soil stabilization. Its high salt tolerance makes it suitable for saline soils, and it can be used as forage for livestock.
Physical Characteristics
Atriplex confertifolia is an evergreen Shrub growing to 1.8 m (6ft) at a medium rate.
See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 7. It is in leaf all year, in flower in June, and the seeds ripen in August. The species is dioecious (individual flowers are either male or female, but only one sex is to be found on any one plant so both male and female plants must be grown if seed is required). and is pollinated by Wind. The plant is not self-fertile.
It is noted for attracting wildlife.
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.
UK Hardiness Map
US Hardiness Map
Synonyms
A. jonesii. Obione confertifolia.
Plant Habitats
Woodland Garden Sunny Edge;
Edible Uses
Edible Parts: Leaves Seed
Edible Uses:
Leaves - cooked[105, 177] and used as greens[216, 257]. The water in which the leaves is cooked is used in making corn pudding[161, 183]. Seed - used in piñole or ground into a meal and used as a thickener in making bread or mixed with flour in making bread[95, 105. 161, 183].
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.
Antispasmodic Epilepsy Poultice
The plant has been burnt and the smoke inhaled as a treatment for epilepsy[257]. The boiled leaves have been used as a liniment for sore muscles and aches[257]. A poultice of the mashed leaves have been applied to the chest and a decoction of the leaves drunk to treat colds[257].
References More on Medicinal Uses
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Other Uses
Agroforestry uses:
Saltbush is often used for erosion control, as a windbreak, and for soil stabilization. Its high salt tolerance makes it suitable for saline soils, and it can be used as forage for livestock.
1. Nectary - Flowers rich in nectar and pollen:
No – Saltbush is wind-pollinated, so it doesn’t produce nectar-rich flowers to attract pollinators.
2. Wildlife - Food (Fruit, Seeds, Leaf litter, Shelter, Nesting, Roosting):
Yes – Saltbush provides food for wildlife through its seeds and foliage. It is an important food source for herbivores like birds and small mammals. The dense, bushy form also provides shelter and cover for nesting birds and other small animals.
3. Invertebrate Shelter (Overwintering sites, Leaf litter, Groundcover):
Yes – The dense, shrubby growth of Saltbush offers good ground cover for invertebrates, and the fallen leaves can serve as shelter and overwintering sites for beneficial insects.
4. Pest Confuser (Smell):
No – Saltbush does not have a strong aromatic smell that repels pests, so it is not typically used as a pest confuser.
Special Uses
References More on Other Uses
Cultivation details
Requires a light or medium well-drained but not too fertile soil in a sunny position[11, 200]. Tolerates saline and very alkaline soils[200]. Succeeds in a hot dry position. Plants resent root disturbance when they are large[134]. Plants are apt to succumb to winter wet when grown on heavy or rich soils. Shadscale forms hybrids with Atriplex canescens, A. garrettii, A. corrugata, and A. gardneri varieties. It is, however, closely allied to A. parryi and A. spinifera[270]. Dioecious. Male and female plants must be grown if seed is required. Saltbush species are typically slow to moderate in growth, depending on the environmental conditions, but can establish well in poor soils. Saltbush can be harvested for forage throughout the growing season, typically in late spring to early autumn.
Saltbush generally flowers in late summer to early autumn, depending on the specific species and growing conditions.
References Carbon Farming Information and Carbon Sequestration Information
Temperature Converter
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Plant Propagation
Seed - sow April/May in a cold frame in a compost of peat and sand. Germinates in 1 - 3 weeks at 13°c[134]. Pot up the seedlings when still small into individual pots, grow on in a greenhouse for the first winter and plant out in late spring or early summer after the last expected frosts. Cuttings of half-ripe wood, July/August in a frame. Very easy. Pot up as soon as they start to root (about 3 weeks) and plant out in their permanent positions late in the following spring[K]. Cuttings of mature wood of the current season's growth, November/December in a frame. Very easy. Pot up in early spring and plant out in their permanent position in early summer[K].
Other Names
If available other names are mentioned here
Native Range
NORTHERN AMERICA: United States, North Dakota, South Dakota, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Oregon (east), Wyoming, New Mexico, Texas, Arizona, California, Nevada, Utah, Mexico, Chihuahua,
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.
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 |
0-0
| | LM | N | M | 2 | 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 |
6-9
| M | LM | N | DM | 4 | 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 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 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| 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 |
7-10
| M | LM | N | DM | 3 | 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 patula | Spreading Orach, Spear saltbush | Annual | 0.8 |
0-0
| | LM | N | M | 3 | 1 | |
| Atriplex powellii | Powell's Saltweed | Annual | 1.5 |
-
| | LM | N | DM | 2 | 0 | |
| Atriplex saccaria | Sack Saltbush | Annual | 0.3 |
-
| | LM | N | DM | 2 | 0 | |
| Atriplex semibaccata | Australian Saltbush. Australian saltbush, Creeping saltbush | Shrub | 0.5 |
9-11
| F | LMH | N | DM | 2 | 0 | 3 |
| Atriplex serenana | Bractscale, Davidson's bractscale | Annual | 3.0 |
7-10
| | LM | N | DM | 2 | 0 | |
| Atriplex subcordata | | Annual | 0.5 |
-
| | LM | N | DM | 2 | 0 | |
| Atriplex tatarica | Tatarian orache | Annual | 1.5 |
0-0
| | LM | N | DM | 2 | 0 | |
| Atriplex truncata | Wedgescale Saltbush | Annual | 0.9 |
7-10
| | LM | N | DM | 2 | 0 | 4 |
|
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.
Expert comment
Author
(Torr.&Frém.)S.Watson.
Botanical References
1171200
Links / References
For a list of references used on this page please go here
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Subject : Atriplex confertifolia
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