Atriplex argentea var. argentea
Silverscale saltbush
(c) Matt Berger, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Matt Berger · licence
Family: Chenopodiaceae · Type: Annual · Native
Atriplex argentea var. argentea (Silverscale saltbush) is a native California annual in the Chenopodiaceae family, recognized by elevation and erect habit with specific fruit bract features.
Silverscale saltbush is a California native annual found in the Great Basin and Mojave Desert regions on saline soils at elevations of 900 to 1,500 meters. Flowering from June to September, this plant produces pale flowers on erect stems. Growing to 30 to 80 centimeters tall with ascending branches, it develops a distinctive upright form. Its leaves are short-petioled with blades 7 to 20 millimeters long, ranging from elliptic to triangular in shape. The plant thrives in harsh, salty environments, adapting well to challenging desert conditions.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 29 sympatric species; elevation and erect habit with specific fruit bract features are diagnostic
Habitat and range
Habitat: Saline soils
Elevation: 900-1500 m
Outside California: to central United States, northern Mexico
Bloom period
Atriplex argentea var. argentea blooms Jun-Sep.
How to tell it apart
vs Artemisia: Atriplex leaves have bead-like scales; Artemisia leaves are finely divided and aromatic when crushed.; vs Ambrosia: Atriplex has simple scaly leaves; Ambrosia has deeply lobed or divided leaves with coarse hairs.; vs Extriplex: Atriplex has 3-5 calyx lobes on male flowers and two seed colors; Extriplex has exactly 4 lobes and uniform dark seeds.; vs Chenopodium: Atriplex has bead-like bladder hairs and paired fruit bracts; Chenopodium has mealy powder and calyx-enclosed fruits.; vs Eriogonum: Atriplex has scaly leaves and paired fruit bracts; Eriogonum has smooth leaves and papery flower tubes.
Frequently asked questions
Is Atriplex argentea var. argentea native to California?
Yes. Atriplex argentea var. argentea is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Atriplex argentea var. argentea bloom?
Atriplex argentea var. argentea blooms Jun-Sep.
What plant family does Atriplex argentea var. argentea belong to?
Atriplex argentea var. argentea is in the Chenopodiaceae family, genus Atriplex.
What habitat does Atriplex argentea var. argentea grow in?
Atriplex argentea var. argentea grows in Saline soils.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
- Atriplex argentea var. expansa — Mojave silverscale
- Atriplex argentea var. hillmanii — Hillman's silverscale
- Atriplex argentea var. longitrichoma — Pahrump orach
- Atriplex canescens — Four-wing saltbush
- Atriplex canescens var. canescens — Fourwing saltbush
- Atriplex canescens var. laciniata — Caleb saltbush
Sources: Jepson eFlora · CalPhotos
Last updated 2026-10-06
Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Cal-IPC, and more.