Atriplex leucophylla
Beach saltbush, Beach Saltbush
(c) Isaac Krone, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Isaac Krone · licence
Family: Chenopodiaceae · Type: Subshrub · Native
Atriplex leucophylla (Beach saltbush) is a native California subshrub in the Chenopodiaceae family, recognized by coastal habitat restriction, prostrate mat-forming habit, spongy fruit bracts.
Beach saltbush is a California native perennial found in coastal bioregions including northern California Coast, central California Coast, San Francisco Bay, southern California Coast, and Channel Islands in sandy dunes and coastal soils at elevations below 60 meters. Flowering from April to October, this plant produces inconspicuous flowers in densely white-scaly clusters. Growing prostrate to decumbent with branches 3 to 10 decimeters long that can be erect or spreading, it forms low, sprawling mats characteristic of coastal dune environments. Its leaves are elliptic to wide-ovate, 9 to 40 millimeters long, with a distinctive white-scaly appearance that helps the plant retain moisture in harsh coastal conditions. The fruit develops as small red-brown seeds within spongy, spherical bracts 3 to 6 millimeters long.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 26 sympatric species; coastal habitat restriction, prostrate mat-forming habit, spongy fruit bracts
Habitat and range
Habitat: Sandy soils, dunes
Elevation: < 60 m
California counties: Santa Cruz, Monterey, Ventura, Los Angeles, Orange, San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara, San Mateo, Alameda, San Diego, San Francisco, Marin, Sonoma, Mendocino, Contra Costa, Humboldt, Del Norte
Outside California: Baja California
Bloom period
Atriplex leucophylla blooms Apr-Oct.
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 leucophylla native to California?
Yes. Atriplex leucophylla is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Atriplex leucophylla bloom?
Atriplex leucophylla blooms Apr-Oct.
Where in California does Atriplex leucophylla grow?
Atriplex leucophylla occurs in Santa Cruz, Monterey, Ventura, Los Angeles, Orange, San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara, San Mateo and other counties, at elevations of < 60 m.
What plant family does Atriplex leucophylla belong to?
Atriplex leucophylla is in the Chenopodiaceae family, genus Atriplex.
What habitat does Atriplex leucophylla grow in?
Atriplex leucophylla grows in Sandy soils, dunes.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · Index of California Plant Names · CalPhotos
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.