Plant Details

Atriplex canescens

Grey Sage Brush, Fourwing saltbush

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Explore the size, hardiness, soil, light, edible uses and harvest period of Atriplex canescens.

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Common names

17 names · 11 languages
EnglishYour language
  • Four-wing Saltbush[2]
  • Fourwing saltbush[1][2]
  • Grey Sage Brush
Other languages (10)
Dutch
  • Melde
French
  • Arroche grisâtre[2]
  • Atriplex à quatre ailes
Chinese (Simplified)
  • 四翼滨藜[2]
German
  • Graue Flügelmelde[1]
Navajo
  • Díwózhiiłbéíí[2]
Polish
  • łoboda posiwiała[2]
Russian
  • Лебеда беловато-серая[2]
Slovak
  • loboda sivastá[2]
Spanish
+1 more nameShow fewer names
Tewa
Sources & name notes (2)

Names recorded in our plant catalogue and botanical sources, grouped by language. Usage can vary by region.

Numbered references identify names recorded by an external source. Other names are from our plant catalogue.

[1] Catalogue of Life 2026-08-20 — Atriplex canescens (Pursh) Nutt. ↗

Common names from World Plants, version 26.05, reproduced in Catalogue of Life 2026-08-20. License: CC BY.

Source records
  • Fourwing saltbush (EN) — VernacularName.tsv, line 148807; taxon JLB9.
  • Graue Flügelmelde (DE) — VernacularName.tsv, line 148808; taxon JLB9.
[2] Atriplex canescens — iNaturalist taxon names ↗

Community-curated iNaturalist taxonomy; common-name attestation, not an independent botanical determination.

Source records
  • Fourwing Saltbush — results[0].names[1]; taxon id 58113; Atriplex canescens.
  • Four-wing Saltbush — results[0].names[2]; taxon id 58113; Atriplex canescens.
  • Cenizo — results[0].names[3]; taxon id 58113; Atriplex canescens.
  • Chamizo — results[0].names[4]; taxon id 58113; Atriplex canescens.
  • Лебеда беловато-серая — results[0].names[6]; taxon id 58113; Atriplex canescens.
  • Taʔanyae — results[0].names[7]; taxon id 58113; Atriplex canescens.
  • Díwózhiiłbéíí — results[0].names[8]; taxon id 58113; Atriplex canescens.
  • Arroche grisâtre — results[0].names[9]; taxon id 58113; Atriplex canescens.
  • Costilla de Vaca — results[0].names[10]; taxon id 58113; Atriplex canescens.
  • Saladillo — results[0].names[11]; taxon id 58113; Atriplex canescens.
  • łoboda posiwiała — results[0].names[12]; taxon id 58113; Atriplex canescens.
  • 四翼滨藜 — results[0].names[13]; taxon id 58113; Atriplex canescens.
  • loboda sivastá — results[0].names[14]; taxon id 58113; Atriplex canescens.

General information

Scientific name: Atriplex canescens
Accepted name (Kew): Atriplex canescens (Pursh) Nutt. View name reference ↗

Accepted in the cited Kew taxonomic treatment.

Sources [1] [2]
Botanical family: Amaranthaceae

Kew's family placement for the genus Atriplex (WCVP v16).

Sources [1]
Also known as: Grey Sage Brush, Fourwing saltbush
Images: Google Images

Plant characteristics

Layer: Shrub
Catalogue size class: Small
Height: 1.80 m
Spread: 1.80 m
Growth rate: None
Foliage: Evergreen

Growing conditions

USDA hardiness: 6-9
Soil moisture:
Well-drained, Moist
Soil:
Sand (light) Loam (medium)
pH:
Acidic Neutral Alkaline
Light:
Full sun

Uses

Edible parts:
Leaves, Sap, verf, Seed
Edibility rating:
(4)
Medicinal rating:
(1)
Functions:
Dye, Fire retardant, Hedge, Carbon farming

Description

Leaves - can be consumed both cooked and raw. They have a very pleasant flavor with a salty touch. The leaves can be used throughout the year, but the harvest in winter should be light, as the plant does not grow much during that time of year. Seeds - to be cooked. When ground into powder, they can be mixed with grains and used in making cakes, and so on, or as Piñole. The seeds are small and difficult to handle. The ground seeds can also be mixed with water and consumed as a refreshing drink. The burnt green herb produces ash that is rich in minerals and is used by the Hopi Indians to enhance the blue color of grain products. The ash can serve as bicarbonate.

Harvest

Harvest starts: 01/09
Harvest ends: 31/10

Sources and references

References for the information marked with source numbers on this page.

Sources checked
  1. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew World Checklist of Vascular Plants, version 16, extracted 4 June 2026
    Supports: Botanical familyTaxonomy
    Relevant sections
    • Botanical family: WCVP v16, wcvp_names.csv row 1321445; name ID 2664993; Atriplex L.. Family column.
    • Taxonomy: WCVP v16, wcvp_names.csv row 1321528; name ID 2665120; Atriplex canescens (Pursh) Nutt..

    Source checked on .

    Source data licence: CC BY 3.0.

  2. Catalogue of Life Catalogue of Life 2026-08-20 — Atriplex canescens

    Taxonomic data from World Plants, version 26.05, reproduced in Catalogue of Life 2026-08-20.

    Supports: Taxonomy
    Relevant sections
    • Taxonomy: COL 2026-08-20, NameUsage.tsv line 4891838, ID JLB9: Atriplex canescens (Pursh) Nutt. (accepted).

    Source checked on .