Alkali Heath
ExplorePlants
Alkali Heath
Frankenia salina
Alkali Heath is a special plant that grows in salty places like marshes and shores. It has tiny pink flowers and is very good at living in tough conditions where other plants can't survive.
Habitat: Coastal areas
Appearance
The Alkali Heath is a low, sprawling shrub with slender, reddish stems and tiny, scale-like leaves. Its small, delicate pink to lavender flowers bloom in clusters, giving it a soft, bushy appearance unlike most other salt-tolerant plants.
KingdomPlantaePhylumTracheophytaClassMagnoliopsidaOrderCaryophyllalesFamilyFrankeniaceaeGenusFrankenia
Category
PlantsRarity
Common
Danger
1/5 · Very low
Snaps
7
Interesting facts
Its leaves often turn reddish-purple in cold weather!
Many desert insects find shelter beneath its bushy branches!
Native people once used this plant to make a soapy lather!
This plant can 'sweat' salt crystals from its tiny leaves!
Special abilities
Ability
Salt Sweats
Alkali Heath has special glands on its leaves that excrete excess salt, helping it thrive where most plants cannot.
Ability
Deep Drinker
Alkali Heath can grow deep roots to find water in dry, salty soils, helping it survive arid conditions.
Measurements & details
- Height
- 15-60 cm
- Spread
- 30-90 cm
- Flower Size
- 0.5-1 cm
- Bloom Season
- Spring to fall
- Edible
- No
- Toxicity
- None
- Lifecycle
- Perennial
- Pollination Method
- Insect
Ecological connections
pollinates
European honey bee
Apis mellifera
Gathers nectar from its flowers.
pollinates
Yellow-faced bumblebee
Bombus vosnesenskii
Visits blooms for pollen.
eaten by
Black-tailed Jackrabbit
Lepus californicus
Browses on its leaves and stems.
shelters
Western Fence Lizard
Sceloporus occidentalis
Hides in its low-growing branches.
Traits
Flowering
Flowering plants are any plants that produce flowers as part of their reproductive cycle.
Shrub
A shrub is a woody plant smaller than a tree, typically with multiple stems branching from or near the ground.
Medicinal
Medicinal plants possess chemical compounds that can be used for therapeutic purposes to treat illnesses or maintain health.
Salt Tolerant
Salt tolerant plants can withstand and grow in conditions with elevated salinity levels in the soil or water.
Drought Tolerant
Drought-tolerant plants can survive and flourish in conditions with limited water availability.
Pollinator Magnet
Describes plants that are particularly attractive and beneficial to a wide range of pollinating organisms.
Coastal
Coastal habitats are dynamic environments located along the interface between land and sea, influenced by tides, waves, and saltwater.
Keystone Species
Describes a species whose presence and role have a disproportionately large effect on its environment.
Also known as
No aliases listed yet.
Collections
Safety
Danger
1/5 · Very low
Always look but don't touch plants unless you know they are safe.
Frequently Asked Questions
How to identify Alkali Heath?
The easiest way to identify Alkali Heath is to use the Snappit nature identifier app.
How tall is Alkali Heath?
15-60 cm
How wide does Alkali Heath spread?
30-90 cm
How big are the flowers on Alkali Heath?
0.5-1 cm
When does Alkali Heath bloom?
Spring to fall
Is Alkali Heath edible?
No
Is Alkali Heath toxic?
None
What is Alkali Heath's lifecycle?
Perennial
Snap Map
Zoom in to split clusters and explore where this object has been snapped.
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Recent Snaps
Feb 22, 2026
Eden Landing Ecological Reservei
Photo attribution
(c) Nina S. Zhao, some rights reserved (CC BY)
License: CC BY 4.0 ↗
Image may be shown cropped inside the card frame.
Where to spot
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California, US
Eden Landing Ecological Reserve
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San Elijo Lagoon
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Sherman Library and Gardens
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