Atriplex parryi
Parry's saltbush
(c) Steve Matson, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Chenopodiaceae · Type: Shrub · Native
Atriplex parryi (Parry's saltbush) is a native California shrub in the Chenopodiaceae family, recognized by desert habitat, spine-like aged twigs, heart-shaped leaf bases.
Parry's saltbush is a California native shrub found in southern Sierra Nevada, Mojave Desert, and northern Sonoran Desert regions in alkaline soils, dry lake flats, and open areas at elevations below 1,500 meters. Flowering from May to August, this plant produces small, inconspicuous flowers with white-scaly bracts. Growing as a rounded, erect shrub 20 to 50 centimeters tall with many spreading to erect branches, it develops stiff, spine-like twigs with age that are densely covered in white scales. Its leaves are small, 5 to 20 millimeters long, with elliptic to wide-ovate blades that are densely white-scaly and have truncate to heart-shaped bases. The shrub produces small round seeds approximately 1 to 1.5 millimeters in diameter, characteristic of its adaptation to arid desert environments.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 29 sympatric species; desert habitat, spine-like aged twigs, heart-shaped leaf bases
Habitat and range
Habitat: Alkaline soils, flats, dry lakes
Elevation: < 1500 m
California counties: Inyo, San Diego, Kern, Los Angeles, Orange, San Bernardino, Mono
Outside California: Nevada
Bloom period
Atriplex parryi blooms May-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 parryi native to California?
Yes. Atriplex parryi is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Atriplex parryi bloom?
Atriplex parryi blooms May-Aug.
Where in California does Atriplex parryi grow?
Atriplex parryi occurs in Inyo, San Diego, Kern, Los Angeles, Orange, San Bernardino, Mono, at elevations of < 1500 m.
What plant family does Atriplex parryi belong to?
Atriplex parryi is in the Chenopodiaceae family, genus Atriplex.
What habitat does Atriplex parryi grow in?
Atriplex parryi grows in Alkaline soils, flats, dry lakes.
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.