Greasewood: The Tough-as-Nails Native Shrub for Challenging Sites
When it comes to plants that can survive just about anything Mother Nature throws their way, greasewood (Sarcobatus vermiculatus) deserves a spot on your radar. This resilient native shrub might not win any beauty contests, but it’s an absolute champion when it comes to growing in places where other plants fear to tread.
What is Greasewood?
Greasewood is a perennial shrub that’s native to both Canada and the lower 48 states, making it a true North American native. You’ll find this hardy plant growing wild across an impressive range of western states and provinces, including Alberta, Saskatchewan, Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oregon, South Dakota, Texas, Utah, Washington, and Wyoming.
This multi-stemmed woody shrub typically reaches heights of 6-10 feet at maturity, though it usually stays under 13-16 feet. What makes greasewood special isn’t its looks—it’s built for survival in some of the toughest conditions you can imagine.
The Good, The Bad, and The Practical
Why you might want to plant greasewood:
- Incredibly drought tolerant once established
- Thrives in salty, alkaline soils where other plants struggle
- Rapid growth rate means quick establishment
- Long-lived perennial that requires minimal maintenance
- Excellent for erosion control and restoration projects
- Native plant that supports local ecosystems
Why you might want to think twice:
- Not particularly ornamental—small, inconspicuous green flowers
- Considered moderately toxic
- Better suited for naturalized areas than formal gardens
- Irregular growth habit may not fit manicured landscapes
Where Greasewood Shines
This isn’t the shrub for your front yard flower bed, but greasewood excels in specific situations. It’s perfect for:
- Xeriscaping and drought-tolerant landscapes
- Areas with poor, salty, or alkaline soils
- Restoration and revegetation projects
- Naturalized areas and wildlife habitat gardens
- Erosion control on challenging sites
Greasewood has different wetland classifications depending on your region—it’s considered Facultative Upland in the Arid West and Western Mountains regions (usually found in non-wetlands but can tolerate some moisture), while in the Great Plains it’s classified as Facultative (equally at home in wet or dry conditions).
Growing Greasewood Successfully
The beauty of greasewood lies in how easy it is to grow—if you can provide the right conditions. This shrub is adapted to USDA hardiness zones 4-9 and can handle temperatures as low as -38°F.
Soil Requirements:
- Prefers fine to medium-textured soils
- Thrives in alkaline conditions (pH 7.5-8.5)
- Excellent salt tolerance
- Low fertility requirements—don’t pamper this plant!
Water and Light:
- High drought tolerance once established
- Low moisture requirements (6-13 inches annual precipitation)
- Needs full sun—shade intolerant
- Avoid overwatering, especially in clay soils
Planting and Care Tips
Greasewood can be propagated several ways, including by seed, cuttings, bare root, or container plants, though commercial availability is limited to specialized native plant suppliers. Seeds are tiny—there are about 245,000 seeds per pound!
Once established, this shrub is remarkably low-maintenance. It has a rapid growth rate during its active growing period in summer, and its deep root system (minimum 12 inches) helps it access water and nutrients that other plants can’t reach.
Care tips:
- Water deeply but infrequently during establishment
- Avoid fertilizing—greasewood prefers lean conditions
- Prune minimally; this plant has medium hedge tolerance
- Be patient—while growth is rapid, it may take time to show its full potential
The Bottom Line
Greasewood isn’t going to be the star of your garden, but it might just be the unsung hero that saves the day in challenging locations. If you’re dealing with salty soil, drought conditions, or areas where nothing else seems to grow, this native shrub could be exactly what you need. Just remember to give it plenty of space and full sun, and don’t expect flashy flowers or fall color—greasewood’s superpower is pure, stubborn resilience.
For most home gardeners, greasewood works best as part of a naturalized landscape or restoration project rather than a formal garden setting. But if you’re looking to support native ecosystems while solving challenging site conditions, this tough little shrub deserves serious consideration.
