Plant Details

Atriplex halimus

Sea Orach, Saltbush

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

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Common names

26 names · 17 languages
EnglishYour language
  • Mediterranean Saltbush[1]
  • Saltbush
  • Sea Orach
+2 more namesShow fewer names
  • Sea Orache[1]
  • Shrubby Orache[1]
Other languages (16)
Dutch
  • Struikmelde[1]
  • Zeemelde
  • Zoutmelde
+1 more nameShow fewer names
  • Zoutstruik
French
  • Arroche halime[1]
  • Arroche marine[1]
  • Pourpier de mer[1]
Arabic
  • رغل ملحي[1]
Catalan
  • Salat blanc[1]
Chinese (Simplified)
Czech
  • lebeda slanomilná[1]
Finnish
  • risumaltsa[1]
German
  • Strauch-Melde[1]
Greek
  • Αλιμιά[1]
Hebrew
  • מלוח קיפח[1]
Italian
  • Atriplice alimo[1]
Lithuanian
  • Sultingoji balandūnė[1]
Portuguese
  • Salgadeira[1]
Russian
  • Лебеда алимская[1]
Slovak
  • loboda slanomilná[1]
Turkish
  • Akdeniz Tuzlu Çalısı[1]
Sources & name notes (1)

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] Atriplex halimus — iNaturalist taxon names ↗

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

Source records
  • Mediterranean Saltbush — results[0].names[1]; taxon id 82671; Atriplex halimus.
  • Shrubby Orache — results[0].names[2]; taxon id 82671; Atriplex halimus.
  • Sea Orache — results[0].names[3]; taxon id 82671; Atriplex halimus.
  • Arroche halime — results[0].names[4]; taxon id 82671; Atriplex halimus.
  • Pourpier de mer — results[0].names[5]; taxon id 82671; Atriplex halimus.
  • Arroche marine — results[0].names[6]; taxon id 82671; Atriplex halimus.
  • מלוח קיפח — results[0].names[7]; taxon id 82671; Atriplex halimus.
  • Struikmelde — results[0].names[8]; taxon id 82671; Atriplex halimus.
  • lebeda slanomilná — results[0].names[9]; taxon id 82671; Atriplex halimus.
  • رغل ملحي — results[0].names[10]; taxon id 82671; Atriplex halimus.
  • Salat blanc — results[0].names[11]; taxon id 82671; Atriplex halimus.
  • Salgadeira — results[0].names[12]; taxon id 82671; Atriplex halimus.
  • 海滨藜 — results[0].names[13]; taxon id 82671; Atriplex halimus.
  • Лебеда алимская — results[0].names[14]; taxon id 82671; Atriplex halimus.
  • Sultingoji balandūnė — results[0].names[15]; taxon id 82671; Atriplex halimus.
  • Αλιμιά — results[0].names[16]; taxon id 82671; Atriplex halimus.
  • Atriplice alimo — results[0].names[17]; taxon id 82671; Atriplex halimus.
  • risumaltsa — results[0].names[18]; taxon id 82671; Atriplex halimus.
  • loboda slanomilná — results[0].names[19]; taxon id 82671; Atriplex halimus.
  • Strauch-Melde — results[0].names[20]; taxon id 82671; Atriplex halimus.
  • Akdeniz Tuzlu Çalısı — results[0].names[21]; taxon id 82671; Atriplex halimus.

General information

Scientific name: Atriplex halimus
Accepted name (Kew): Atriplex halimus L. View name reference ↗

Accepted in the cited Kew taxonomic treatment.

Sources [1]
Botanical family: Amaranthaceae

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

Sources [1]
Also known as: Sea Orach, Saltbush
Images: Google Images

Plant characteristics

Layer: Shrub
Catalogue size class: Small
Height: 2.00 m
Spread: 3.00 m
Growth rate: Moderate
Foliage: Evergreen

Growing conditions

USDA hardiness: 7-10
Soil moisture:
Well-drained, Moist
Soil:
Sand (light) Loam (medium)
pH:
Acidic Neutral Alkaline
Light:
Full sun

Uses

Edible parts:
Leaves, Seed, Manna
Edibility rating:
(5)
Medicinal rating:
(1)
Functions:
Hedge

Description

Leaves can be eaten both raw and cooked. Some varieties are consumed raw, but they are certainly not only intended for famine situations; on the contrary, they are among the popular crops currently being cultivated. The leaves have a pleasant salty taste and can be added to salads or cooked like spinach. When lightly steamed, they retain their crunchiness and serve as a delicious substitute for spinach. Even when grown in non-salty soils, the leaves maintain their briny flavor. They are usable year-round, but when harvesting in winter, one must consider that the plant grows less during that time. The seeds can be cooked and ground into flour to be used as a thickening agent in soups or mixed with grains to make bread. Although the seeds are small and tricky to handle, they are a valuable addition.

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 1322162; name ID 2665336; Atriplex halimus L..

    Source checked on .

    Source data licence: CC BY 3.0.