Haloxylon ammodendron aka Black Saxaul

Haloxylon ammodendron, known as saxaul, belongs to the Amaranthaceae family. Its native range runs from Iran to Mongolia and China. It grows in northern and western parts of China. Kazakhstan also forms part of its range. This is a plant of deserts and dry shrubland. It grows on dunes, sand ridges, and sandy riverbanks. Some of these sites have salty or alkaline soils.

Saxaul can grow as a shrub or a tree. Plants For A Future describes an evergreen shrub reaching 6.6 feet [2 metres]. Its account gives no separate height for the tree form. The plant keeps its foliage through the year. Flowers appear from June to July. Each flower has both male and female organs. The supplied sources give no details about fruit or bark. They also provide no mature spread or leaf shape.

In cultivation, saxaul needs full sun and cannot grow in shade. Give it soil that lets water drain away freely. Sandy and loamy soils suit it, including those low in nutrients. It accepts mildly acid, neutral, and alkaline soil. It can also grow in very alkaline or salty ground. The plant tolerates drought and can use dry or moist soil. Yet it dislikes wet conditions, so drainage matters more than richness. It withstands temperatures below freezing, but the evidence gives no hardiness zone.

Saxaul has a role in planting schemes on desert land. Projects use it to help restore vegetation in these harsh sites. Its ability to grow in poor soil supports this use. The wood provides fuel and a source of green dye. Plants For A Future also lists cultivated beds as a setting. Its need for sun and drainage limits suitable garden sites. That source does not flag the plant as weedy. It reports no known edible or medicinal uses, and no known hazards. This does not establish that all parts are safe to eat.

To raise plants from seed, sow in a greenhouse during spring. Move seedlings into separate pots once large enough to handle. Keep them under glass through at least their first winter. Plant out in late spring or early summer, after expected frosts. Half-ripe cuttings offer another means of propagation. Take these in July or August, using sand in a frame.