Green Molly: A Hardy Native Shrub for Water-Wise Western Gardens
If you’re looking for a tough-as-nails native plant that laughs in the face of drought, let me introduce you to green molly (Bassia americana). This unassuming little shrub might not win any beauty contests, but what it lacks in flashy flowers, it more than makes up for in resilience and practicality.
What Is Green Molly?
Green molly is a low-growing perennial shrub that’s as American as apple pie – well, at least the western half of America. This hardy native typically stays under 1.5 feet tall, though it can occasionally reach up to 3 feet at maturity. Don’t let its modest size fool you; this plant has serious staying power in challenging conditions.
You might also encounter this plant under its former scientific names, including Kochia americana or Kochia vestita, so don’t be confused if you see these synonyms floating around in older gardening literature.
Where Does Green Molly Call Home?
This western native has quite the geographic spread, naturally occurring across eleven states: Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Texas, Utah, and Wyoming. It’s perfectly adapted to the challenging conditions of the American West, from desert valleys to mountain foothills.
Why Consider Green Molly for Your Garden?
Here’s where green molly really shines – it’s practically bulletproof once established. If you’re dealing with:
- Drought conditions and water restrictions
- Alkaline soils (pH 7.0-8.5)
- Rocky or sandy ground
- Areas that need erosion control
- Low-maintenance landscaping needs
Then green molly might just be your new best friend. This plant has high drought tolerance, can handle salty conditions, and actually prefers low-fertility soils – talk about easy to please!
The Reality Check: What Green Molly Isn’t
Let’s be honest – green molly isn’t going to stop traffic with its stunning blooms. Its small white flowers appear in late summer but are barely noticeable. The brown seeds that follow are equally inconspicuous. If you’re looking for a showstopper for your front yard focal point, you might want to keep shopping.
This plant is also shade intolerant, so forget about using it under trees or in that dim corner of your yard. It needs full sun to thrive.
Growing Green Molly Successfully
The good news? Growing green molly is refreshingly straightforward:
Soil Requirements
Green molly adapts well to coarse and medium-textured soils but struggles in heavy clay. It actually prefers alkaline conditions and can handle high salinity – perfect for those challenging western soils that give other plants fits.
Water Needs
Once established, this plant is incredibly drought tolerant and has low moisture requirements. In fact, it thrives in areas receiving just 5-10 inches of annual precipitation. Overwatering is more likely to harm it than help it.
Climate Considerations
Green molly can handle temperatures down to -33°F, making it suitable for USDA hardiness zones 4-9. It needs at least 150 frost-free days and is most active during spring and fall growing seasons.
Planting Tips
You can propagate green molly by seed, bare root, or container plants, though commercial availability is limited to specialty native plant sources. Seeds are tiny – there are about 500,000 per pound! Plant spacing should be relatively wide, with about 1,200-1,700 plants per acre for restoration projects.
Landscape Uses
Green molly works best in:
- Native plant gardens and xeriscapes
- Restoration and revegetation projects
- Erosion control on slopes
- Low-maintenance ground cover in harsh conditions
- Wildlife habitat gardens (though specific benefits are not well documented)
Environmental Considerations
From a wetland perspective, green molly is considered facultative, meaning it can handle both wet and dry conditions, though it generally prefers drier sites. This adaptability makes it useful for areas with variable moisture conditions.
The Bottom Line
Green molly won’t win any garden beauty awards, but if you need a reliable, native, drought-tolerant plant for challenging western conditions, it’s hard to beat. Think of it as the dependable workhorse of the native plant world – not glamorous, but absolutely essential for water-wise gardening success.
This is definitely a plant it and forget it kind of shrub, perfect for gardeners who want to support native ecosystems without the fuss of high-maintenance plants. Just don’t expect it to be the star of your garden show – green molly is more of a reliable supporting actor in the native plant drama.
