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Polygonaceae FAMILY

Atraphaxis spinosa

Atraphaxis spinosa

Edibility
2/5
Medicinal
0/5

Safety & Hazards

None known

Cultivation Details

HabitDeciduous Shrub
Growth—

Atraphaxis spinosa is a plant of semi-arid areas through central and western Asia, as far south as the Arabian Peninsula. Plants can tolerate somewhat more humid climates and are hardy to at least -10°c so long as the soil is not wet over the winter[1]. Requires a sunny position in a light well-drained soil of low to moderate fertility[2, 1]. Succeeds in the rock garden or on a sunny stony bank[1]. The tiny flowers have long lasting petals[2]. This species is closely related to Atraphaxis frutescens[1]. Any pruning should be restricted to the removal of branch tips every second or third year during the spring in order to maintain a neat compact habit[1]. Established specimens resent root disturbance[1].

Propagation

Seed - sow spring in a greenhouse[1]. When they are large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and grow them on in the greenhouse for at least their first winter. Plant them out into their permanent positions in late spring or early summer, after the last expected frosts. Seedlings are prone to damp off so should be watered with care and kept well ventilated[1]. Cuttings of soft wood in early summer in a frame[1]. Layering in spring[1]. Cite as: Temperate Plants Database, Ken Fern. temperate.theferns.info. 2026-02-20. <temperate.theferns.info/plant/Atraphaxis+spinosa>

Pollinators

Data unavailable

References

  1. [1]The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. — Huxley. A. · MacMillan Press · 1992 · ISBN 0-333-47494-5 ↩︎Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.
  2. [2]Ornamental Shrubs, Climbers and Bamboos. — Thomas. G. S. · Murray · 1992 · ISBN 0-7195-5043-2 ↩︎Contains a wide range of plants with a brief description, mainly of their ornamental value but also usually of cultivation details and varieties.
  3. [3]Flora of the USSR. — Komarov. V. L. · Israel Program for Scientific Translation · 1968 · http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org · ISBN - ↩︎An immense (25 or more large volumes) and not yet completed translation of the Russian flora. Full of information on plant uses and habitats but heavy going for casual readers. It can be downloaded from the Internet.
  4. [4]Flora of China — Missouri Botanical Garden Press; St. Louis. · 1994 · http://flora.huh.harvard.edu/china/ ↩︎An excellent, comprehensive resource in 25 volumes. In addition to the botanical information the flora also gives basic information on habitat and some uses. An on-line version is also available.
  5. [5]Cornucopia - A Source Book of Edible Plants. — Facciola. S. · Kampong Publications · 1990 · ISBN 0-9628087-0-9 ↩︎Excellent. Contains a very wide range of conventional and unconventional food plants (including tropical) and where they can be obtained (mainly N. American nurseries but also research institutes and a lot of other nurseries from around the world.