Atriplex argentea var. hillmanii
Hillman's silverscale
Family: Chenopodiaceae · Type: annual · Native
Conservation status: CNPS 2B.2
Hillman's silverscale is a rare (CNPS 2B.2) California native annual found in northern Sierra Nevada, eastern and northern Mojave Desert, and eastern Mono Basin in saline or clay valley bottoms at elevations of 875 to 1,700 meters. Flowering from June to September, this plant produces pale flowers with subtle silvery-gray tones. Growing 15 to 30 centimeters tall with decumbent to erect stems that have spreading to ascending branches, it forms a delicate, open structure. Its leaves range from 8 to 20 millimeters long, with blade shapes varying from ovate to elliptic or obovate, featuring rounded to slightly tapered bases. The plant's distinctive silvery appearance and ability to thrive in challenging saline environments make it a resilient desert annual.
Habitat: Saline or clay valley bottoms
Bloom period: Jun-Sep
Elevation: 875-1700 m
Bioregions: n SNH, e&s MP, n DMoj
Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Jepson eFlora, Cal-IPC, and more.