Atriplex coulteri
Coulter's saltbush
(c) Cayman Lanzone, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Chenopodiaceae · Type: Subshrub · Native
Conservation status: CNPS 1B.2
Atriplex coulteri (Coulter's saltbush) is a native California subshrub in the Chenopodiaceae family, recognized by perennial habit and small sharply dentate fruit bracts.
Coulter's saltbush is a rare (CNPS 1B.2) California native perennial found in southern California coastal and Channel Islands regions in alkaline or clay soils, coastal bluff scrub, and open sites at elevations below 500 meters. Flowering from March to October, this plant produces inconspicuous greenish-gray flowers in small terminal spikes. Growing as a low, spreading subshrub 20 to 50 centimeters tall with multiple decumbent to erect branches, it forms dense, intricate clusters. Its leaves are distinctive, narrow and elliptic, covered in gray scales especially on the undersides, typically 7 to 20 millimeters long. The plant produces small brown seeds 1 to 1.5 millimeters long enclosed by sharply dentate bracts that fuse at the base.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 23 sympatric species; perennial habit and small sharply dentate fruit bracts are diagnostic
Habitat and range
Habitat: Alkaline or clay soils, open sites, scrub, coastal bluff scrub
Elevation: < 500 m
California counties: Orange, Los Angeles, Riverside, Santa Barbara, San Diego, Ventura, Alameda, San Bernardino, San Luis Obispo, Kern
Outside California: Baja California
Bloom period
Atriplex coulteri blooms Mar-Oct.
Conservation status
CNPS 1B.2
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 coulteri native to California?
Yes. Atriplex coulteri is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Atriplex coulteri bloom?
Atriplex coulteri blooms Mar-Oct.
Where in California does Atriplex coulteri grow?
Atriplex coulteri occurs in Orange, Los Angeles, Riverside, Santa Barbara, San Diego, Ventura, Alameda, San Bernardino and other counties, at elevations of < 500 m.
What plant family does Atriplex coulteri belong to?
Atriplex coulteri is in the Chenopodiaceae family, genus Atriplex.
Is Atriplex coulteri rare or endangered?
Atriplex coulteri carries California Rare Plant Rank 1B.2, state rank S2.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · CNPS Rare Plant Inventory · Index of California Plant Names · CalPhotos · CDFW CNDDB
Last updated 2026-10-07
Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Cal-IPC, and more.