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| Four-wing Saltbush, Four-winged Saltbush, Chamiza, Bushy Atriplex, Fourwing Shadscale, Wing-scale, Shad-scale Atriplex canescens Chenopodiaceae Four-wing saltbush is a vigorous, densely branching shrub with silvery, gray-green leaves. It has insignificant flower spikes on separate male and female plants, but females produce distinctive, 4-winged fruit. It is common in the Trans-Pecos, growing on saline or alkaline flats, slopes and grasslands. Its range extends from Canada to Mexico. Four-winged saltbush is extremely salt tolerant and adapts to a wide range of soils. It is also extremely drought tolerant, and if over-watered can become rangy and invasive; however, with controlled watering it can be used as a fast-growing hedge or barrier. Its dense roots (20 to 40 feet deep) also make it useful in erosion control. The fruit is very attractive to wildlife, and the foliage is nutritious to cattle, sheep and goats, providing valuable forage, especially in saline areas. Plant Habit or Use: small shrub Exposure: sun Flower Color: yellow - green, inconspicuous
Blooming Period: spring Fruit Characteristics: capsule enclosed in 4 papery wings Height: 1 to 6 feet Width: 2 to 8 feet Plant Character: evergreen Heat Tolerance: very high Water Requirements:
Soil Requirements: alkaline Additional Comments:
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