# Creeping Saltbush (*Atriplex prostrata*) Creeping Saltbush is a low-growing plant that loves salty places! It has thick, green leaves and can spread out like a cozy blanket on the ground. - **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Snaps:** 3 - **Habitat:** Coastal areas ![Creeping Saltbush](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Atriplex_latifolia.jpg&width=800) Photo: http://legambientearcipelagotoscano.it (for the authorization see here ), CC BY-SA 3.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Atriplex_latifolia.jpg) ## Appearance The Creeping Saltbush has slender stems that spread low to the ground, forming dense mats. Its small, triangular leaves are often covered in a silvery-white, scaly coating, giving them a frosted look. These leaves can sometimes blush reddish-purple, especially in drier or salty conditions. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Plantae - **Phylum:** Tracheophyta - **Class:** Magnoliopsida - **Order:** Caryophyllales - **Family:** Amaranthaceae - **Genus:** Atriplex ## Interesting facts - Creeping Saltbush changes leaf color, often becoming red or purple when stressed by cold or drought! - Even though it loves salt, some types of saltbush are eaten by farm animals. - Its leaves sometimes look like they're sprinkled with sugar, but that's actually tiny salt crystals it pushes out! - The ancient Greeks and Romans might have eaten saltbush leaves as a vegetable. ## Special abilities - **Water Saver:** This plant has thick, succulent-like leaves and a scaly coating that helps it store water and reduce evaporation in dry places. - **Soil Hugger:** With its spreading stems and roots, Creeping Saltbush helps hold loose soil in place, stopping erosion in challenging environments. ## Measurements & details - **Height:** 10-50 cm - **Spread:** 30-150 cm - **Flower Size:** 0.1-0.2 cm - **Bloom Season:** Summer to Fall - **Edible:** Yes - **Toxicity:** None - **Lifecycle:** Perennial - **Pollination Method:** Wind ## Ecological connections - **Eats:** Lucerne flea (*Sminthurus viridis*) — Feeds on the leaves of various Atriplex species. - **Eats:** Cotton bud moth (*Crocidosema plebejana*) — Larvae feed on leaves and stems of many chenopods, including Atriplex. - **Eats:** Mallard (*Anas platyrhynchos*) — May consume seeds if growing near wetland habitats. ## Traits - [Flowering](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/flowering): Flowering plants are any plants that produce flowers as part of their reproductive cycle. - [Shrub](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/shrub): A shrub is a woody plant smaller than a tree, typically with multiple stems branching from or near the ground. - [Evergreen](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/evergreen): Evergreen plants retain their foliage throughout the year, never shedding all their leaves at once. - [Salt Tolerant](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/salt-tolerant): Salt tolerant plants can withstand and grow in conditions with elevated salinity levels in the soil or water. - [Drought Tolerant](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/drought-tolerant): Drought-tolerant plants can survive and flourish in conditions with limited water availability. - [Desert](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/desert): Desert habitats are arid regions characterized by extremely low precipitation and often extreme temperatures, supporting specialized flora and fauna. - [Coastal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/coastal): Coastal habitats are dynamic environments located along the interface between land and sea, influenced by tides, waves, and saltwater. - [Keystone Species](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/keystone-species): Describes a species whose presence and role have a disproportionately large effect on its environment. ## Collections - [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/plants) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low Always look but don't touch plants unless you know they're safe! ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Creeping Saltbush? Start with the whole plant, then compare leaf arrangement, leaf edges, stems and any flowers or fruit. Opposite leaves grow in pairs; alternate leaves come one at a time along the stem. These details tell you far more together than a single green leaf does. Plant Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How tall is Creeping Saltbush? 10-50 cm ### How wide does Creeping Saltbush spread? 30-150 cm ### How big are the flowers on Creeping Saltbush? 0.1-0.2 cm ### When does Creeping Saltbush bloom? Summer to Fall ### Is Creeping Saltbush edible? Yes ### Is Creeping Saltbush toxic? None ### What is Creeping Saltbush's lifecycle? Perennial ## Where to spot - [Indian Creek Recreation Area](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/indian-creek-recreation-area) — South Dakota, US · Park - [San Elijo Lagoon](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/san-elijo-lagoon) — California, US · Nature Reserve - [Parc national du Bic](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/parc-national-du-bic) — Québec, CA · National Park [View all places to see Creeping Saltbush](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/creeping-saltbush) ## More Plants - [white snakeroot](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-snakeroot) (*Ageratina altissima*) - [tree-of-heaven](https://www.snappit.app/explore/tree-of-heaven) (*Ailanthus altissima*) - [western sword fern](https://www.snappit.app/explore/western-sword-fern) (*Polystichum munitum*) - [common milkweed](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-milkweed) (*Asclepias syriaca*) --- Source: [Creeping Saltbush: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/creeping-saltbush)