Fourwing Saltbush
ExplorePlants
Fourwing Saltbush
Atriplex canescens
Fourwing Saltbush is a tough plant that grows in dry places. It has soft, silvery leaves and small, winged seeds that look like tiny sails. This plant helps the soil and provides food for animals.
Habitat: Desert
Appearance
The Fourwing Saltbush is a hardy shrub with a dense, rounded shape and distinctive silvery-green or gray-green leaves. Its most unique feature is its papery, pale-yellow to pinkish, four-winged seeds that cling to the branches.
KingdomPlantaePhylumTracheophytaClassMagnoliopsidaOrderCaryophyllalesFamilyAmaranthaceaeGenusAtriplex
Category
PlantsRarity
Common
Danger
1/5 · Very low
Snaps
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Interesting facts
Ancient Pueblo people ground its seeds into flour for baking!
Its leaves can be used to make a soapy lather, useful in the desert!
Many kinds of animals, from birds to deer, rely on it for food!
This tough plant helps stop soil from washing away in windy places.
Special abilities
Ability
Salt Shield
Fourwing Saltbush can grow in very salty soil because its roots and leaves handle high salt levels, helping it thrive where other plants can't.
Ability
Desert Thirst Quencher
Fourwing Saltbush has super deep roots that can reach water far underground, helping it survive long droughts in dry desert lands.
Ability
Winged Seed Glider
Fourwing Saltbush has special four-winged seeds that catch the wind, helping them fly far away to find new places to grow.
Measurements & details
- Height
- 50-300 cm
- Spread
- 100-250 cm
- Bloom Season
- Late spring to fall (May-October)
- Edible
- Yes
- Toxicity
- None
- Lifecycle
- Perennial
- Pollination Method
- Wind
Ecological connections
eaten by
Mule Deer
Odocoileus hemionus
Leaves and twigs are a food source
eaten by
Pronghorn
Antilocapra americana
Important browse in arid environments
eaten by
Black-tailed Jackrabbit
Lepus californicus
Provides food and cover
shelters
Merriam's Kangaroo Rat
Dipodomys merriami
Uses shrubs for cover and protection
shelters
Dark-eyed Junco
Junco hyemalis
Nests within its branches
Traits
Nitrogen Fixing
Describes organisms capable of converting atmospheric nitrogen into compounds usable by plants.
Shrub
A shrub is a woody plant smaller than a tree, typically with multiple stems branching from or near the ground.
Evergreen
Evergreen plants retain their foliage throughout the year, never shedding all their leaves at once.
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.
Edible
Edible plants are those parts of a plant that are considered safe for human consumption.
Desert
Desert habitats are arid regions characterized by extremely low precipitation and often extreme temperatures, supporting specialized flora and fauna.
Also known as
No aliases listed yet.
Collections
Safety
Danger
1/5 · Very low
Always look but don't touch plants without asking an adult first.
Frequently Asked Questions
How tall is Fourwing Saltbush?
50-300 cm
How wide does Fourwing Saltbush spread?
100-250 cm
When does Fourwing Saltbush bloom?
Late spring to fall (May-October)
Is Fourwing Saltbush edible?
Yes
Is Fourwing Saltbush toxic?
None
What is Fourwing Saltbush's lifecycle?
Perennial
How is Fourwing Saltbush pollinated?
Wind
Where is Fourwing Saltbush usually found?
Desert
Snap Map
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Recent Snaps
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Where to spot
Park13 sightings3 species
New Mexico, US
Bandelier National Monument
You might spot Tree Cholla, Mule Deer, and Sacred Datura.
View guide →
Park14 sightings3 species
New Mexico, US
Organ Mountains-Desert Peaks National Monument
You might spot Creosote Bush, Devilshead, and Lace-Spine Nipple Cactus.
View guide →
Park0 sightings0 species
New Mexico, US
Chaco Culture National Historical Park
You might spot Common Side-Blotched Lizard and Kingcup Cactus.
View guide →
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