Bluegreen Saltbush: A Hardy Shrub for Challenging Landscapes
Meet the bluegreen saltbush (Atriplex nummularia), a tough-as-nails perennial shrub that laughs in the face of drought and salty soils. While this resilient plant isn’t native to North America, it has found a home in California’s challenging landscapes where few other plants dare to venture.
What Is Bluegreen Saltbush?
Bluegreen saltbush is a multi-stemmed woody shrub that typically grows 9 feet tall and wide, though it can occasionally reach up to 13-16 feet under ideal conditions. True to its name, this plant sports attractive gray-green foliage with a coarse texture that gives it a distinctive, somewhat wild appearance. Don’t expect showy blooms – its small yellow flowers are pretty inconspicuous, appearing during winter months.
This slow-growing shrub has a long lifespan and maintains a single-stem growth form with an erect, upright habit. Its dense summer foliage provides good coverage, though it becomes more moderate in winter when some leaves drop.
Where Does It Grow?
Originally hailing from Australia, bluegreen saltbush has established itself in California, where it reproduces spontaneously in the wild. As a non-native species that has naturalized in certain areas, it represents both an opportunity and a consideration for gardeners.
Why Consider (or Not Consider) Bluegreen Saltbush?
Here’s where things get interesting. This plant is practically indestructible in harsh conditions:
- Extremely drought tolerant with low water needs
- Thrives in salty soils where other plants fail
- Handles poor, coarse-textured soils with ease
- Tolerates high pH levels (up to 9.0)
- Fire tolerant and handles hedge trimming well
- Survives temperatures down to -8°F
However, since it’s not native to North America, consider exploring native alternatives first. Native saltbush species like four-wing saltbush (Atriplex canescens) or shadscale saltbush (Atriplex confertifolia) can provide similar benefits while supporting local ecosystems.
Growing Conditions and Care
If you do choose to grow bluegreen saltbush, you’ll find it refreshingly low-maintenance. This shrub thrives in USDA zones 8-10 and prefers:
- Full sun (shade intolerant)
- Well-draining, coarse to medium-textured soils
- pH between 6.0-9.0
- Annual precipitation between 7-17 inches
- Areas with at least 150 frost-free days
The plant needs minimal fertilizer (medium fertility requirements) and actually prefers lean soils. Its deep root system (extending at least 20 inches down) helps it access water and nutrients other plants can’t reach.
Planting and Propagation
Getting bluegreen saltbush started is surprisingly straightforward. You can:
- Plant seeds (140,000 seeds per pound!)
- Use bare-root plants
- Start with container-grown specimens
Seeds are routinely available commercially, though seedling vigor is low, so be patient. Plant density should range from 700-1,700 plants per acre, depending on your goals. The plant doesn’t spread vegetatively, so what you plant is what you get.
Landscape Uses
Bluegreen saltbush shines in challenging landscapes where other plants struggle. It’s perfect for:
- Xeriscapes and desert gardens
- Coastal areas with salt spray
- Roadside plantings in arid regions
- Erosion control on difficult sites
- Low-water commercial landscapes
While it won’t win any beauty contests with its coarse texture and inconspicuous flowers, its silver-gray foliage can provide nice contrast in drought-tolerant plant palettes.
Wildlife and Pollinator Value
Unfortunately, specific wildlife benefits for bluegreen saltbush aren’t well-documented, and its small, inconspicuous flowers suggest limited pollinator value. This is another reason to consider native alternatives that provide known benefits to local wildlife and pollinators.
The Bottom Line
Bluegreen saltbush is an incredibly tough shrub that can survive where others cannot. While it’s not invasive, its non-native status means it won’t contribute as much to local ecosystems as native alternatives would. If you’re dealing with extremely challenging conditions – think salty, dry, and harsh – and native options aren’t thriving, bluegreen saltbush might be worth considering. Just remember to explore native saltbush species first, as they can often provide similar toughness while supporting the critters that call your region home.
