Carried by 43 nurseries
View Availability at NurseryData provided by the participants of the Consortium of California Herbaria
View additional distribution information on the Jepson eflora
Big saltbush (Atriplex lentiformis) is a fast-growing, highly branched shrub with scaly gray-green leaves. In summer or fall, it produces creamy-white flowers arranged in tassel-like clusters. Typically reaching 3 to 9 feet in height and spreading even wider, it forms a dense, bushy structure. Maximum height is achieved in areas with abundant soil moisture.
This hardy shrub thrives in full sun and well-drained soil. While it may appear too large for small residential gardens, it is highly effective for stabilizing slopes and works well as a natural hedge.
Big saltbush is especially valuable for wildlife, particularly songbirds. According to the Wild Bird Center, it attracts more birds than any other plant in their garden. Quail are drawn to its seeds and rely on the dense shrub for protective cover.
Shrub
3 - 10 ft Tall
10 ft Wide
Upright, Mounding, Rounded
Fast, Moderate
Evergreen
Yellow, Brown
Summer
Bank stabilization, Hedge
Full Sun
Low
Max 2x / month once established
Easy
Tolerates cold to 15° F
Medium
Tolerates a variety of soils, especially alkaline.
Tolerates saline soil.,Tolerates sodic soil..
Soil PH: 7.0 - 9.0
Alkaline or saline washes, dry lakes, alkali sinks, and shadscale scrub; also sometimes found in grasslands or coastal sage scrub
Alkali Sink, Coastal Sage Scrub, Coastal Salt Marsh, Valley Grassland, Wetland-Riparian
This plant is not often used in small residential gardens but is very useful on larger acreage and in restoration projects, especially where the soil is alkaline and there is subsurface water. Use with native grasses such as Deer Grass (Muhlenbergia spp.), Arrow Weed (Pluchea sericea), Mesquite (Prosopis glandulosa or pubescens), Desert Thorn (Lycium spp.), Alkali Goldenbush (Isocoma acradenia), and willows (Salix spp.).
Butterflies and moths supported
2 confirmed and 14 likely
Western Pygmy Blue
Brephidium exilis
MacNeill's Sootywing
Hesperopsis gracielae
Garden Webworm Moth
Achyra rantalis
Edwards' Beach Moth
Anarta edwardsii