SafePlants

Atriplex canescens: F-Wing Saltbush

Atriplex canescens, commonly known as F-wing Saltbush (also f wing saltbush, f-wing saltbush, or fwing saltbush), chamiso, or chamiza, is an evergreen shrub valued for its drought tolerance and ecological significance.

Considerations for Pets:

• This plant is a shrub.

Considerations for Children:

• This plant is a shrub.

Taxonomy and Nomenclature

• Scientific Name: Atriplex canescens (Pursh) Nutt.
• Family: Amaranthaceae (formerly Chenopodiaceae, also known as the Goosefoot Family)
• Kingdom: Plantae (Plants)
• Subkingdom: Tracheobionta (Vascular plants)
• Superdivision: Spermatophyta (Seed plants)
• Division: Magnoliophyta (Flowering plants)
• Plant Symbol: ATCA2
• Synonyms: Shadscale (mentioned alongside *Atriplex canescens*)

Distribution and Habitat

• Native to dry areas of western North America.
• Widespread and often dominant on salty or alkaline soils.
• Found from Mexico through to Canada.
• Abundant in the desert and foothills of the Great Basin region.

Ecological Role

• Ecologically important range plant in arid southwestern U.S.A. rangelands.
• Widely used for reclamation plantings.

Morphological Characteristics

• Evergreen shrub, extremely variable in form: compact and rounded, sprawling and low, or open-branched and treelike.
• Typically grows to 1.8 meters (6 feet) in height and spread, but can reach 2 meters (6 ft) or even occasionally 3 meters (10 feet). Some reach 15 ft. (5m)
• Heavily branched.
• Deep-rooted.
• Leaves are alternating, linear to narrow.
• Leaves are gray-green and densely white-scaly, sometimes described as glandular.
• Flowers are minute and greenish; summer flowers are often considered insignificant.
• The "wings" of the seed project from the seed at right angles.
• Semi-evergreen.

Interactions with Other Organisms

• Provides excellent browse for deer season long.
• Good browse plant for bighorn sheep, antelope, and elk in fall and winter.
• Readily hybridizes with several other species in the Atriplex genus.

Other Information

• Well adapted to a wide range of temperature and soil conditions.
• Highly tolerant of drought, salinity, and alkalinity.
• Requires full sun.
• Becomes very drought tolerant after establishment.

Quirky Facts

• The common name, "F-wing Saltbush," comes from the distinctive paperlike wings that project from the seed.
• Native Americans in the American Southwest historically relied on the plant for both food and soap.

Further Information

• USDA NRCS Idaho Plant Materials Program
• Encyclopedia of Life
• ARKive
• Dave's Garden