Atriplex nummularia
Bluegreen saltbush
(c) Tony Rebelo, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA), uploaded by Tony Rebelo · licence
Family: Chenopodiaceae · Type: Shrub · Not Native
Atriplex nummularia (Bluegreen saltbush) is a non-native California shrub in the Chenopodiaceae family, recognized by Southern CA only, very large shrub, thick leaves, corky horn-tubercled bracts.
Bluegreen saltbush is a naturalized shrub found in southern California coastal areas in sandy soils and open, disturbed places at elevations below 40 meters. Flowering from December to June, this plant produces inconspicuous flowers in grayish panicles on dioecious shrubs. Growing 1.5 to 3 meters tall with many ascending to erect branches, it develops a distinctive gray-scaly appearance. Its thick leaves are wide-ovate to nearly triangular, 1.5 to 6.5 centimeters long, with wavy or irregularly toothed edges. The plant produces round, corky fruit bracts 4.5 to 9 millimeters long with occasional horn-like tubercles.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 23 sympatric species; Southern CA only, very large shrub, thick leaves, corky horn-tubercled bracts
Habitat and range
Habitat: Sandy soils, open, disturbed places, coastal bluffs
Elevation: < 40 m
Outside California: native to Australia
Bloom period
Atriplex nummularia blooms Dec-Jun.
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 nummularia native to California?
No. Atriplex nummularia is not native to California (recorded as not native).
When does Atriplex nummularia bloom?
Atriplex nummularia blooms Dec-Jun.
What plant family does Atriplex nummularia belong to?
Atriplex nummularia is in the Chenopodiaceae family, genus Atriplex.
What habitat does Atriplex nummularia grow in?
Atriplex nummularia grows in Sandy soils, open, disturbed places, coastal bluffs.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · 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.