Species Silverscale Saltbush
light-yellow flowers, with grey-green foliage

Silverscale Saltbush

Atriplex argentea

Also Known As - Silvery Atriplex
Silverscale Saltbush is an evergreen shrub native to the deserts of the southwestern United States and northern Mexico. Its silvery scales and leaves give it a distinct shiny or silvery appearance. The plant produces small yellow or pink flowers from summer to fall and edible fruits in the winter. It is drought-tolerant and able to thrive in poor soils with low fertility. It is a great choice for garden use and landscaping in areas with hot, dry climates and salty soils. Also known as Alikreukel, it is drought-resistant and can be pruned to shape making it suitable for borders and accents in dry gardens and xeriscapes.

Watering:

Minimal

Hardiness Zone:

Sun:

full sun,part shade

Leaf:

Yes

Leaf Color:

green

Growth Rate:

Low

Drought Tolerant:

Yes

Salt Tolerant:

Yes

Care Level:

Medium

watering

Common Sandweed (Athysanus pusillus) should be watered frequently, but lightly. It prefers moist soil, so water it whenever the top few inches of soil feels dry to the touch (typically every 2 to 3 days in the summer and every 5 to 7 days in the winter). When watering, avoid any large influxes of water as this species is sensitive to overwatering. Check the soil before each watering to make sure its dry enough and if it feels too wet, wait a few more days before watering again.

sunlight

Common Sandweed (Athysanus pusillus) prefers sunny warm conditions and typically grows in full sun. It does best in sites with direct sun for at least 6 hours a day during the growing season (spring through summer). In general, full sun is defined as 6 or more hours of direct, unfiltered sunlight per day, although the exact amount will vary depending on the season and location. The plant will tolerate some shade conditions, but it will not reach its full potential without full sun.

pruning

Common Sandweed, a native perennial plant, will benefit from light pruning each spring. Pruning should take place when the plant has reached a height of 8 to 12 inches and all of its leaves have emerged. Dead leaves and any stems that have died back during the winter months should be removed, allowing the plant to use its energy to put out fresh growth. Prune no more than 1-third of the plant’s total height at any 1 time to limit stress on the plant. Prune Common Sandweed in late March or early April before the hottest part of the season.

Season

Fall
Winter
Spring
Summer
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Harvest Fruit

Harvest Fruit

⚠️ Perenual and its members cannot be held liable for any health issues that may arise from the information provided on the website or from using any of the plants found on the site. The information provided is intended to be used as general guidelines only.