Fourwing saltbush
Atriplex canescens
Fourwing saltbush (Atriplex canescens) is a Colorado-native shrub suited to the Colorado Front Range. It matures to about 3–8 ft tall and 4–8 ft wide, needs low water, and prefers full sun. Tough native that thrives where salt + alkaline kill other plants. Silvery foliage; four-winged seeds.
Colorado nativelow water3–8 ft tall and 4–8 ft wideXeric / water-wiseDeer-resistant
Photos
At a glance
- Botanical name
- Atriplex canescens
- Type
- Shrub
- Mature size
- 3–8 ft tall and 4–8 ft wide
- Water needs
- low water
- Sun
- full sun
- Colorado native
- Yes
- Foliage
- Semi-evergreen
- Soil
- sandy, loam, clay
- Soil pH
- 7.0–9.0
- Hail tolerance
- high
- Wind tolerance
- high
- Salt tolerance
- high
- Pollinator value
- low
- Good for
- hellstrip, south wall
Planting & establishment
Water deeply 1×/week first 2 summers — slow to establish. Bombproof after rooting; needs no supplemental water.
Frequently asked questions
- Is Fourwing saltbush good for the Colorado Front Range?
- Yes. Fourwing saltbush is included in the Front Range Plant Finder as a shrub suited to Colorado's Front Range.
- How big does Fourwing saltbush get?
- It matures to about 3–8 ft tall and 4–8 ft wide.
- How much water does Fourwing saltbush need?
- It needs low water once established.
- Is Fourwing saltbush native to Colorado?
- Yes — it is a Colorado native.
