Four-Wing Saltbrush (Atriplex canescens) is a semi-evergreen shrub with an upright, mounding habit. Branches have narrow, oblong leaves that are a silvery-green color. Four-Wing Saltbrush is a dioecious plant, with male and female flowers on separate plants. The male flowers are red to yellow and form spikes at the end of the branches while the female flowers are inconspicuous, but form showy clusters of tan four-winged fruits. These fruits remain on the plant through the winter. This plant is an important browse and cover shrub for wildlife and best suited for restorative or natural plantings, or slope or bank stabilization.
Four-Wing Saltbrush
Native to Cache County: Yes
Irrigation Requirement: Very Low (Water to Establish)
Mature Size: 3 - 6' tall and 4 - 8' wide
Spacing: 7 - 9' apart
Bloom Colors: Yellow
Bloom Season: June - July
Hardiness Zone: 2 - 10
Light Requirement: Full Sun
Deer Resistant: No
Salt Tolerant: Unknown
Soils: Requires well-drained soil, but can be tolerant of sand, loam, or clay soils.
Plants in the Atriplex family are host species for 14 known native pollinators in the Cache Valley area. Saltbrush is also an important cover and browse plant for game birds, songbirds, and mammals.