Atriplex canescens var. linearis

Slenderleaf saltbush

Family: Chenopodiaceae · Type: shrub · Native

Slenderleaf saltbush is a California native shrub found in the Peninsular Ranges and desert regions in sandy soils, dunes, and flats at elevations below 800 meters. Flowering from May to July, this plant produces small, inconspicuous flowers in delicate clusters. Growing 1 to 2.5 meters tall with an open, spreading form, it develops multiple stems that create an airy, distinctive silhouette. Its leaves are notably narrow and linear, measuring 10 to 35 millimeters long and just 1 to 3 millimeters wide, with sharp-pointed tips that give the plant a fine, delicate texture. The fruit-bearing bracts are sessile, with free tips that extend beyond the narrow wings, creating an intricate architectural quality to the plant's structure.

Habitat: Sandy soils, dunes, flats

Bloom period: May-Jul

Elevation: < 800 m

Bioregions: PR/D, D

Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Jepson eFlora, Cal-IPC, and more.