Common Name:
big saltbush, quailbush
Family Name:
Chenopodiaceae
Botanical Name:
Atriplex lentiformis
Sub Species:
Variety:
Forma:
Cultivar:
Characteristics:
Quailbush is a perennial, fast-growing, evergreen desert shrub that is broad-branched and fast-growing, reaching up to 3 m (10 ft) in height (2,7). Branches are broad-spreading, slender, and flexible with terete stems (cylindrical with no ridges or grooves) (5,7). Young branches are puberulent, becoming glabrous, but rarely thorned at maturity (2,7). Leaves are alternately arranged, petiolate, and gray-green; their shape varies from deltoid to oblong-elliptic, and margins are entire, toothed, or wavy (2,5,7). The leaf surface is scurfy (covered in fine, scale-like particles), and leaves range from 1-5 cm long (2,5,7). The plant is either dioecious or monoecious, with yellowish-green flowers which appear from spring through fall. Staminate flowers grow in 1-2mm wide clusters as panicles 5-5 cm (2-20 in ) long, and pistillate flowers will form less complex panicles (2,7). Fruiting bracteoles are sessile, orbiculate, compressed, 3-5mm wide, and enclosed seeds are brown and 1-2mm wide (2,7). The fruit ripens from July to October.
Compound:
atr len
Geographic Origin:
Southwest US
Ecozone Origin:
Nearctic
Biome Origin:
Desert
Natural History:
Big saltbush is native to the southwestern United States and northern Mexico (1) but is widely distributed throughout southwestern North America in California, Arizona, Nevada, Texas as well as Mexico at elevations from 70-1000m (1,3). Others cite distribution from sea level to 4000m elevation (in Arizona) (2). The plant can grow in habitats with saline or alkaline soils, (salt flats and dry lake beds, coastal regions, and desert scrub) but is also able to grow in non-saline soils on stream and canal banks in riparian communities (1,2,3). The species is suitable for growing in USDA hardiness zones 7-10 with plants in coastal regions doing better at temperature below 36C and optimum photosynthesis in desert areas at 44C (2).
Cultivation Notes:
Big saltbush reproduces by seed with highest germination rates obtained with stratification pre-treatments including an 8-hour warm period (20 and 30 °C) and a 16-hour cold period (5 and 15 °C). The plant tolerates arid climates with annual precipitation as low as (6cm = 2.5”) (1,2). Big saltbush is also amenable to growing in a range of soils from nutritionally poor, light (sandy) soils and medium (loamy) soils, with mildly acidic, neutral or mildly alkaline pH (3). It can tolerate drought but prefers moist well-drained soil (3). It also needs full sun and cannot grow in shade (1,3). In summer, water twice each month once established (1).
Ethnobotany:
This plant is used to revegetate riparian habitats in the southwest US. It is also popular as a hedge, for bank stabilization and for butterfly and bird-attracting (especially quail) gardens (1). The plant accumulates selenium from the soil which may reach toxic levels so as not to be useful as animal forage (2). It is however, used for human consumption as the leaves, young shoots and seed are eaten cooked (3). These parts are ground into a meal and used as flour, a thickener, or as a porridge (3).
Height:
6 - 10 feet
Width:
6 - 10 feet
Growth Rate:
Moderate Growing
Grow Season:
Spring
Flower Season:
Summer
Color:
Yellow
Function:
Habitat
Spread:
Non-spreading
Allergen:
Invasive:
Toxicity:
Benign
Hardy:
Hardy
Water Use:
Low water Use
