Atriplex gmelinii var. gmelinii
Gmelin's saltbush
Family: Chenopodiaceae · Type: Annual · Native
Atriplex gmelinii var. gmelinii (Gmelin's saltbush) is a native California annual in the Chenopodiaceae family, recognized by habitat restriction to salt marshes/beaches, green hairless leaves, two seed types.
Gmelin's saltbush is a California native annual found in coastal bioregions including Northern Coast, Central Coast, and San Francisco Bay areas in salt marshes and beaches at elevations below 50 meters. Flowering from June to August, this plant produces green flowers with distinctive diamond-shaped or ovate bracts. Growing 0.5 to 2.5 meters tall with sprawling to erect stems that branch from the base and have ascending branches. Its leaves are linear to lanceolate, ascending, and attached by petals, ranging 10 to 70 millimeters long with tapered or rounded bases. The plant produces two kinds of seeds, with one type being 1 to 2 millimeters long and black, and the other 2 to 3 millimeters long and brown.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 14 sympatric species; habitat restriction to salt marshes/beaches, green hairless leaves, two seed types
Habitat and range
Habitat: Salt marshes, beaches
Elevation: < 50 m
Outside California: to Alaska
Bloom period
Atriplex gmelinii var. gmelinii blooms Jun-Aug.
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 gmelinii var. gmelinii native to California?
Yes. Atriplex gmelinii var. gmelinii is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Atriplex gmelinii var. gmelinii bloom?
Atriplex gmelinii var. gmelinii blooms Jun-Aug.
What plant family does Atriplex gmelinii var. gmelinii belong to?
Atriplex gmelinii var. gmelinii is in the Chenopodiaceae family, genus Atriplex.
What habitat does Atriplex gmelinii var. gmelinii grow in?
Atriplex gmelinii var. gmelinii grows in Salt marshes, beaches.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · CalPhotos
Last updated 2026-09-30
Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Cal-IPC, and more.