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Amaranthaceae FAMILY

Atriplex canescens

Atriplex canescens

Edibility
2/5
Medicinal
2/5

Safety & Hazards

No member of this genus contains any toxins, all have more or less edible leaves. However, if grown with artificial fertilizers, they may concentrate harmful amounts of nitrates in their leaves.

Cultivation Details

HabitEvergreen Shrub
Growth—

Atriplex canescens is adapted to desert climates. Temperature gradations across its range are great. In northern salt-desert associations, annual precipitation ranges from 150 - 350 mm; summers are hot and dry; and winters are cold. Within the plant's range, there are areas that rarely experience winter frosts. In other areas, winter temperatures may dip to -46°c. The ability of the plant to tolerate cold (and therefore, cold deserts) varies with ecotype[1]. Requires a position in full sun in any well-drained but not too fertile soil[2, 3, 4]. Plants can tolerate some shade in their native habitat[1]. Tolerates saline and very alkaline soils[4]. Plants are very tolerant of maritime exposure, though they dislike wet climates[PFAF]. Resents root disturbance when large. Succeeds in a hot dry position. Plants develop a deep taproot that, in favourable soils, can be 6 metres or more long[1]. A very ornamental plant[5], though it is liable to succumb to winter wet when grown on heavy or rich soils[2, 4]. This species forms hybrids with Atriplex confertifolia and Atriplex gardneri[6]. The plant has several different forms, each adapted to different environmental conditions. In addition, there are various ploidy levels - as well as diploids, there are triploids, tetrapoids etc. Although ploidy levels can only be shown by testing samples of the plant, they are adapted in particular to different moisture levels and elevations. It is important therefore, when choosing plants for a specific location, to ensure that you obtain seed/plant material from a similar site[1]. The plant may sprout from the root crown after top-growth is removed by fire or browsing. However, sprouting vigour varies among populations and is difficult to predict based upon geographic location. Some populations show only a weak sprouting response; others no not sprout at all [1].Atriplex canescens var. gigantea is often found in active sand dunes and accommodates the change in depth of sand by rooting (i.e., layering) along the buried portions of the stem. Actual plant length below the sand surface is often much greater than that showing above the surface[6]. A dioecious species - both male and female forms must be grown if fruit and seed are required. Occasional monoecious plants are found[6, 7]. Individual plants can change sex. The change is more generally from female to male and is apparently associated with stress such as cold or drought. It would appear that the change confers a survival advantage on the plant[7].

Propagation

Seed - sow mid spring in a cold frame in a compost of peat and sand. Germination usually takes place within 1 - 3 weeks at 13°c[3]. Pot up the seedlings when still small into individual pots, grow on in a greenhouse for the first winter and plant out in late spring or early summer after the last expected frosts. The seed hasgermination inhibitors - the fruit bracts and seedcoats present mechanical barriers to germination. Seeds also have chemical dormancy from saponins in the utricle. Seeds therefore require stratification, leaching, and/or scarification for germination. When dormancy breaks, seeds germinate when enough moisture for seed imbibition accompanies warm temperatures[1] Cuttings of half-ripe wood, mid summer in a very sandy compost in a frame. Very easy. Pot up as soon as they start to root (about 3 weeks) and plant out in their permanent positions late in the following spring[PFAF]. Cuttings of mature wood of the current season's growth, late autumn in a frame. Very easy. Pot up in early spring and plant out in their permanent position in early summer[PFAF]. Layering of the stems. Some forms of this species self-layer[6]. Cite as: Temperate Plants Database, Ken Fern. temperate.theferns.info. 2026-02-20. <temperate.theferns.info/plant/Atriplex+canescens>

Pollinators

Wind

References

  1. [1]Fire Effects Information System — http://www.feis-crs.org/feis/ ↩︎An on-line information site with comprehensive information on over 1,100 species of plant. Mainly developed to supply information on the effects of fire on plants and animals, it also contains a wealth of other information on the plants
  2. [2]Trees and Shrubs Hardy in Great Britain. Vol 1 - 4 and Supplement. — Bean. W. · Murray · 1981 · ISBN - ↩︎A classic with a wealth of information on the plants, but poor on pictures.
  3. [3]Growing from Seed. Volume 2. — Rice. G. (Editor) · Thompson and Morgan. · 1988 · ISBN - ↩︎Very readable magazine with lots of information on propagation. An interesting article on Ensete ventricosum.
  4. [4]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.
  5. [5]Vascular Plants of the Pacific Northwest. — Hitchcock. C. L. · University of Washington Press · 1955 · ISBN - ↩︎A standard flora for Western N. America with lots of information on habitat etc. Five large volumes, it is not for the casual reader.
  6. [6]Flora of N. America — http://flora.huh.harvard.edu/fna/ ↩︎An on-line version of the flora with an excellent description of the plant including a brief mention of plant uses.
  7. [7]Illustrated Flora of North Central Texas — Diggs, Jnr. G.M.; Lipscomb. B. L. & O'Kennon. R. J · Botanical Research Institute, Texas. · 1999 · http://artemis.austincollege.edu/acad/bio/gdiggs/NCTXpdf.htm · ISBN 1-889878-01-4 ↩︎An excellent flora, which is also available on-line.
  8. [8]Dictionary of Economic Plants. — Uphof. J. C. Th. · Weinheim · 1959 · ISBN - ↩︎An excellent and very comprehensive guide but it only gives very short descriptions of the uses without any details of how to utilize the plants. Not for the casual reader.
  9. [9]A Dictionary of Plants Used by Man. — Usher. G. · Constable · 1974 · ISBN 0094579202 ↩︎Forget the sexist title, this is one of the best books on the subject. Lists a very extensive range of useful plants from around the world with very brief details of the uses. Not for the casual reader.
  10. [10]Common Edible and Useful Plants of the West. — Sweet. M. · Naturegraph Co. · 1962 · ISBN 0-911010-54-8 ↩︎Useful wild plants in Western N. America. A pocket guide.
  11. [11]Edible and Useful Wild Plants of the United States and Canada. — Saunders. C. F. · Dover Publications · 1976 · ISBN 0-486-23310-3 ↩︎Useful wild plants of America. A pocket guide.
  12. [12]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.
  13. [13]Native American Ethnobotany — Moerman. D. · Timber Press. Oregon. · 1998 · ISBN 0-88192-453-9 ↩︎Very comprehensive but terse guide to the native uses of plants. Excellent bibliography, fully referenced to each plant, giving a pathway to further information. Not for the casual reader.
  14. [14]Flora Europaea — ? · Cambridge University Press · 1964 · ISBN - ↩︎An immense work in 6 volumes (including the index). The standard reference flora for Europe, it is very terse though and with very little extra information. Not for the casual reader.
  15. [15]Ethnobotany of the Hopi — Whiting. A. F. · North Arizona Society of Science and Art · 1939 · ISBN - ↩︎A very good guide the the plant uses of the N. American Hopi Indians.
  16. [PFAF]Plants for a Future — pfaf.org ↩︎