Atriplex confertifolia aka Shadscale

Atriplex confertifolia is a spiny shrub known as shadscale or shadscale saltbush. It belongs to the amaranth family, Amaranthaceae. Its native range spans the western and central United States into Chihuahua, Mexico. It grows in salt desert scrub and sagebrush country. It also occurs among pinyon, juniper, and ponderosa pine. Wild plants grow on gravelly to fine soils.

Shadscale forms a rounded bush with several stems. Virginia Tech describes plants about 3 feet (0.9 metres) tall and wide. Plants For A Future gives a height of 5 feet (1.5 metres). Thin, pale gray twigs become stiff and sharp with age. Small, pale scales coat their surface. The bark is light gray-brown, with rough furrows on older stems. Thick leaves grow in an alternate pattern along the twigs. They are oval to round, with smooth edges and gray-green surfaces. Leaves measure about half an inch long and may grow sparsely. Crushed leaves can have a fish-like smell. Plants may keep their leaves or shed them during cold or drought.

Small greenish flowers form spikes at branch tips and leaf joints. Virginia Tech places flowering in spring; Plants For A Future lists June. Male and female flowers grow on separate plants. Wind carries the pollen, and seed production needs both sexes. The fruit is an utricle with two round, papery wings. Fruits cluster at branch tips and measure about half an inch. They change from green to pink, then pale brown. Virginia Tech reports autumn ripening, while Plants For A Future lists August. The fruits can remain on the plant after ripening.

Grow shadscale in full sun with fast drainage. Light sandy or medium loamy soil suits it. It accepts poor soil, salt, and strong alkalinity. It also tolerates mildly acid and neutral ground. Hot, dry sites suit this shrub better than wet ones. Heavy or rich soil can cause losses during wet winters. Avoid disturbing the roots of large plants. Plants For A Future lists USDA zones 4–9 and a moderate growth rate.

Shadscale offers foliage and seed as wildlife food. Cooked leaves and seeds also have recorded human food uses. Leaves can irritate the mouth and throat, even after cooking. The small seeds take work to free from thick husks. Recorded traditional remedies use leaves for aches and colds. These records do not establish safety or medical benefit.