Data provided by the participants of the Consortium of California Herbaria

View additional distribution information on the Jepson eflora

Nitrophila occidentalis is a species of flowering plant in the amaranth family known by the common name boraxweed. It is native to the western United States and northern Mexico, where it can be found in habitat with moist alkaline soils, such as salt pans. It is a rhizomatous perennial herb producing decumbent or erect stems up to about 30 centimeters tall. The stems have paired branches lined with oppositely arranged, fleshy, linear or oblong green leaves up to 1. 6 centimeters in length. Flowers occur in the leaf axils, alone or in clusters of up to 3, accompanied by small bracts. The flower lacks petals but has five pointed sepals 1 or 2 millimeters long which are white or pink in color, fading white with age.

Plant type

Perennial herb

Size

1 ft Tall

Form

Mounding

Growth rate

Moderate

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Color

Purple, Pink, White

Soil description

Prefers loamy or clay soils. Grows poorly in sandy soils.

Plant communities

Chaparral, Foothill Woodland, Lodgepole Forest, Red Fir Forest, Valley Grassland, Wetland-Riparian, Yellow Pine Forest