Atriplex canescens aka Four Wing Saltbush

Atriplex canescens is a shrub known as fourwing saltbush. It is evergreen, so it keeps its leaves year-round. Other names are grey sage brush and chamisa. Its family is Amaranthaceae, the amaranth family. Sources differ on where it is native. Kew lists the southeast and south of California. Plants For A Future gives a wider North American range. This spans western Canada, the United States, and Mexico. It grows in dry grasslands, deserts, dunes, and washes.

Garden plants reach about 6 feet [1.8 metres] tall and wide. A wider height range reaches 8.2 feet [2.5 metres]. The shrub grows at a moderate rate. Its leaves are narrow and grey-green, with smooth edges. They grow in an alternate pattern, taking turns along stems. Some plants have few leaves, though reports describe leafy plants too. Fine grey hairs coat the thin young twigs. On older stems, pale grey-brown bark has deep, uneven grooves.

Small yellow-brown flowers grow in groups at stem tips and leaf joints. They bloom in summer; one source gives July. Each plant bears either male or female flowers. Wind moves pollen from one plant to the next. Both sexes must grow nearby for plants to set seed. The fruits start pale green, then turn light brown. Each fruit has four thin wings that feel like paper. These wings give the shrub its common name. Fruits ripen in autumn and may stay for two years.

Grow this shrub in full sun with soil that drains well. It suits sand, loam, or soil with gravel. It can grow in poor soil and cope with drought. It also copes with high salt levels and alkaline soil. Avoid rich or wet sites, and prune only a little. Plants For A Future lists USDA zones 3–9. The shrub can form hedges and windbreaks on exposed sites. Its roots help hold soil and curb erosion. It also feeds livestock and draws wildlife.

Records note food uses for both leaves and seeds. Boil leaves, throw out the cooking water, and eat small amounts only. Leaves may contain oxalates and saponins, plus harmful levels of nitrates. Added fertilizer can cause more nitrates to build up. Tough fruit coats make seeds hard to get out. Reports of traditional uses include leaf washes for itchy skin. Leaves and stems also yield yellow dye and cleansing lather. The evidence names no specific pest or disease problems.