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Jim Morefield from Nevada, USA Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 2.0 |
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| Jim Morefield from Nevada, USA Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 2.0 |
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Summary
Shrubby, native saltbush of southern California and the western Great Basin; flowers spring–autumn in alkaline lowlands. A sturdy saline-site shrub—primarily a seed plant with traditional porridge use.
Physical Characteristics
Atriplex torreyi is an evergreen Shrub growing to 1 m (3ft 3in) by 1 m (3ft 3in) at a medium rate.
See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 7 and is not frost tender. The flowers are pollinated by Wind.
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: 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
Homotypic Synonyms: A. lentiformis subsp. torreyi (S.Watson) H.M.Hall & Clem. A. lentiformis var. torreyi (S.Watson) McMinn. Obione torreyi S.Watson
Plant Habitats
Edible Uses
Edibility (summary & rating). Seeds prepared as porridge by the Kamia (Imperial Valley). Leaves not highlighted as food here. Edibility rating: 3/5 (seed food with processing; shrub leaves typically harsh). Parts used & preparation. Seeds (utricles): Clip dry heads; thresh/winnow; grind to meal; simmer as porridge. Expect some woody/alkaline notes; change water if needed. Leaves: If attempted, only as a boiled small portion (Atriplex leaves are often irritating raw).
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
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Other Uses
A sturdy saline-site shrub
Special Uses
References More on Other Uses
Cultivation details
Shrubby, native saltbush of southern California and the western Great Basin; flowers spring to autumn in alkaline lowlands. Season & phenology. Long flowering window; harvest seed late summer–autumn when heads are papery-dry. Identification notes. Erect, many-branched gray-green shrub with scurfy leaves; abundant bractlets on female plants; overall look similar to other shrubby Atriplex but usually shorter than fourwing saltbush and without conspicuous 4-wings. Habitat & distribution. Alkaline valley bottoms, desert basins, lake margins (S. California, W. Great Basin). Growing conditions & cultivation. Full sun; extremely salt/alkali tolerant; drought hardy; good for windbreaks and saline remediation. Hardiness. Woody USDA ~6–9 (regional variation). Size & habit. Typically 0.5–1.5 m tall, rounded bushes. Weed potential. Low outside saline habitats; forms persistent stands within them. Lookalikes & cautions. Can be confused with fourwing saltbush (A. canescens)—which has showy four-winged fruits; same oxalate/nitrate cautions.
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).
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Plant Propagation
Seed (pre-soak/stratify light if needed); semi-hardwood cuttings in summer with rooting hormone and excellent drainage.
Other Names
If available other names are mentioned here
Atriplex torreyi — Torrey’s Saltbrush
Native Range
Arizona, California, Nevada, New Mexico, Utah
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 outside saline habitats; forms persistent stands within them.
Conservation Status
IUCN Red List of Threatened Plants Status : Not available
| 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 |
| Atriplex serenana | Bractscale, Davidson's bractscale | Annual | 3.0 |
8-11
| | LM | N | DM | 3 | 0 | 0 |
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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.
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Expert comment
Author
(S.Watson) S.Watson
Botanical References
Links / References
For a list of references used on this page please go here
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Subject : Atriplex torreyi
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