The leaves are the part most often mentioned as edible. Boiling improves the flavor and produces a mild green broth. Seeds may also have been consumed occasionally, although reliable documentation is limited. Overall, the food value is low [2-3]. Edibility Rating: 1.5/5. Taste, Processing & Preparation: Fresh leaves possess a mild, somewhat pleasant flavor lacking the bitterness found in many desert shrubs. Unfortunately, the dense woolly hairs dominate the eating experience. The texture has been compared to chewing felt, wool, or carpet fibers. Cooking softens the leaves slightly but does little to eliminate the hairs [2-3]. Boiling produces a pale green broth with a surprisingly agreeable flavor. The broth is mildly herbaceous and somewhat reminiscent of spinach or other cooked greens. Unfortunately, any beneficial nutrients extracted into the liquid may be accompanied by potentially harmful selenium compounds if the plant was growing on selenium-rich soils. Filtering removes the hairs but does not remove dissolved selenium. Because selenium content varies with soil conditions and cannot be easily determined in the field, reliance on winterfat as a food source is unwise. Seasonality: Winterfat is evergreen or semi-evergreen across much of its range. Leaves remain available throughout the year, including winter. Flowering generally occurs from May through October, depending on elevation and rainfall patterns. Seeds mature from late summer through autumn. Nutritional Value: Winterfat is renowned as animal forage. The foliage is unusually rich in protein compared to most desert shrubs and remains palatable long after other vegetation has dried. This exceptional forage quality explains its importance to pronghorn, mule deer, bighorn sheep, rabbits, and livestock. However, nutritional value for grazing animals does not automatically translate into suitability as a human food. Texture, digestibility, and mineral accumulation issues limit its usefulness. Cautions & Toxicity: Winterfat’s greatest concern is its ability to accumulate selenium. Selenium is an essential trace element in small quantities but becomes toxic when concentrations rise too high. Plants growing on selenium-rich soils may contain levels capable of causing poisoning. Symptoms of excessive selenium consumption can include digestive disturbances, hair loss, nail abnormalities, neurological problems, and other health effects. Because selenium concentration varies widely by location and cannot be determined visually, caution is strongly advised. Regular consumption should be avoided. The dense leaf hairs may also cause throat irritation and reduce palatability. Traditional Uses: While winterfat was highly valued by Indigenous peoples as an ecological resource and by wildlife as forage, evidence for widespread use as a staple human food is limited. Most ethnobotanical references focus on its value as livestock forage, wildlife browse, or medicinal plant rather than a significant food source. Its greatest contribution to traditional lifeways may have been indirect, helping sustain game animals and livestock through difficult seasons [2-3].

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.


Krascheninnikovia lanata (commonly known as Winterfat) has a rich history of traditional medicinal uses, primarily among Indigenous North American tribes. While it has not been extensively evaluated in modern clinical trials, traditional practices utilized various parts of the shrub to treat a wide variety of ailments: Skin Ailments & Burns: A poultice of the ground root was frequently used by tribes like the Zuni and Navajo to treat burns. A leaf poultice was applied to sores, boils, poison ivy rashes, and sore muscles. Pain & Fevers: A hot decoction or infusion of the leaves was traditionally used to bring down fevers. Eye & Scalp Conditions: The plant's tea was utilized as a compress to soothe sore eyes and as a scalp wash to treat head lice, slow hair loss, and prevent premature graying. Digestive Health: Historical reports indicate the plant was used to soothe stomach discomfort and promote better digestion. Ceremonial Use: Branches were often tossed into fires in traditional sweat lodges due to their mildly sweet, pleasant fragrance. Disclaimer: Traditional remedies, including those from Winterfat, should be explored with caution. Always consult a healthcare professional or herbalist before using wild plants for medicinal purposes.

Forage Importance: Winterfat is among the finest forage shrubs in western North America. Crude protein levels remain relatively high throughout the year, even during winter dormancy. Pronghorn, deer, elk, bighorn sheep, rabbits, and domestic livestock all browse it readily. In many areas, it serves as a critical winter food source when grasses and forbs have become unavailable. Winterfat is occasionally planted for rangeland restoration, erosion control, wildlife habitat improvement, and forage enhancement. Once established, it requires little maintenance. Ecological Importance: Winterfat is a keystone shrub across many western rangelands. It stabilizes soils, supports wildlife populations, improves forage diversity, and contributes significantly to ecosystem resilience during drought. Where healthy winterfat populations persist, both wildlife and livestock generally benefit. Winterfat is primarily wind-pollinated, so it is not a major nectar plant for bees, butterflies, or other insect pollinators. Its flowers are small, inconspicuous, and not showy. It may still support insects indirectly by providing structure and cover, but its pollinator value is lower than that of flowering shrubs such as buckwheats, rabbitbrush, or sages.

Special Uses