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Summary
Wedgeleaf saltbush or saltweed is an annual herb native to California, growing to 0.9m in cold to warm temperate climates. The leaves and young plants are cooked and have a salty flavour. The seed is prepared and used in piñole, an ancient grain originating with the Aztecs, or ground into a meal and used as a thickener in making bread. Other Atriplex species are recommended for human consumption, and Atriplex truncata as a fodder crop. Leaves are available all year.
Physical Characteristics
Atriplex truncata is a ANNUAL growing to 0.5 m (1ft 8in) by 0.5 m (1ft 8in).
See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 5. It is in flower from July to September, and the seeds ripen from August to October. 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.
UK Hardiness Map
US Hardiness Map
Synonyms
Obione truncata.
Plant Habitats
Cultivated Beds;
Edible Uses
Edible Parts: Leaves Seed
Edible Uses:
Edibility (summary & rating). Seeds gathered and eaten by the Goshiute. Leaves not highlighted here; if used, boil. Edibility rating: 3/5 (seed resource; modest flavor). Parts used & preparation. Seeds (utricles): Collect dry heads; thresh/winnow; grind; cook as mush or add to breads. Leaves: If tried, use as small boiled greens [2-3]. Leaves and young plants - cooked. A salty flavour. Seed - cooked[161, 177, 257]. Used in piñole or ground into a meal and used as a thickener in making bread or mixed with flour in making bread.
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
References More on Other Uses
Cultivation details
Fodder: Bank Management: Coppice Management: Fodder Regional Crop
Herbaceous, native saltbush of the Intermountain Region (UT/NV and surrounds). Named for wedge-shaped bracts around the fruit. Season & phenology. Blooms summer–autumn; seed when dry and tan. Identification notes. Small, scurfy herb with diagnostic truncated/wedge-like bractlets enclosing the utricles. Habitat & distribution. Playas, alkali flats, desert benches of the Great Basin/Intermountain West. Growing conditions & cultivation. Full sun; high pH, saline, droughty soils; low fertility. Hardiness. Annual/short-lived reseeder; effectively USDA 4–9. Size & habit. 10–50 cm, upright tufts. Weed potential. Low. Niche specialist. Lookalikes & cautions. Other small Atriplex; same oxalate/nitrate cautions. Traditional uses. Goshiute seed food. Harvest tips. Winnow in a light, steady breeze; grind to reduce husk texture; if alkaline/harsh, pre-boil.
Carbon Farming
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Fodder: Bank
Fodder banks are plantings of high-quality fodder species. Their goal is to maintain healthy productive animals. They can be utilized all year, but are designed to bridge the forage scarcity of annual dry seasons. Fodder bank plants are usually trees or shrubs, and often legumes. The relatively deep roots of these woody perennials allow them to reach soil nutrients and moisture not available to grasses and herbaceous plants.
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Management: Coppice
Cut to the ground repeatedly - resprouting vigorously. Non-destructive management systems maintaining the soil organic carbon.
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Management: Fodder
Non-destructive management systems maintaining the soil organic carbon.
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Regional Crop
These crops have been domesticated and cultivated regionally but have not been adopted elsewhere and are typically not traded globally, Examples in this broad category include perennial cottons and many nuts and staple fruits.
References Carbon Farming Information and Carbon Sequestration Information
Temperature Converter
Type a value in the Celsius field to convert the value to Fahrenheit:
Fahrenheit:
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Plant Propagation
Propagation. By seed; shallow sow; fall or spring; optional 12–24 h soak.
Other Names
If available other names are mentioned here
Wedgeleaf saltbush or saltweed
Native Range
NORTHERN AMERICA: Canada (Saskatchewan, Alberta, British Columbia (south)), United States (Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Washington, Wyoming, California, Nevada, 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. Niche specialist.
Conservation Status
IUCN Red List of Threatened Plants Status :
| Related Plants
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| 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
(Torr.)A.Gray.
Botanical References
6071270
Links / References
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Subject : Atriplex truncata
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