Atriplex polycarpa
Allscale saltbush
Photo by Chez Brungraber
Family: Chenopodiaceae · Type: Shrub · Native
Atriplex polycarpa (Allscale saltbush) is a native California shrub in the Chenopodiaceae family, recognized by desert/semi-desert, tall shrub, thick leaves, spine-like aged twigs.
Allscale saltbush is a California native shrub found in the San Joaquin Valley margins, northern Transverse Ranges, eastern Peninsular Ranges, southern Sierra Nevada eastern edge, and desert regions at elevations below 1,500 meters in alkaline flats and dry lake habitats. Flowering from July to October, this plant produces tiny, inconspicuous flowers amid densely gray-scaly branches. Growing 5 to 20 decimeters tall with many spreading to ascending branches that become spine-like with age, it forms a compact and intricate shrub. Its leaves are small and thick, generally 3 to 25 millimeters long, ranging from oblong to narrowly oblanceolate in shape and appearing silvery-gray due to dense scaling. The fruits are small, spherical bracts that are 2 to 3 millimeters long, with minutely crenate edges and a smooth to slightly bumpy surface.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 31 sympatric species; desert/semi-desert, tall shrub, thick leaves, spine-like aged twigs
Habitat and range
Habitat: Alkaline flats, dry lakes
Elevation: < 1500 m
California counties: Inyo, Kern, San Bernardino, Imperial, Riverside, San Diego, Fresno, Santa Barbara, Orange, Los Angeles, San Luis Obispo, San Joaquin, Monterey, Tulare, San Benito, Kings, Glenn, Ventura, Sacramento, Merced
Outside California: to Utah, northern Mexico
Bloom period
Atriplex polycarpa blooms Jul-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 polycarpa native to California?
Yes. Atriplex polycarpa is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Atriplex polycarpa bloom?
Atriplex polycarpa blooms Jul-Oct.
Where in California does Atriplex polycarpa grow?
Atriplex polycarpa occurs in Inyo, Kern, San Bernardino, Imperial, Riverside, San Diego, Fresno, Santa Barbara and other counties, at elevations of < 1500 m.
What plant family does Atriplex polycarpa belong to?
Atriplex polycarpa is in the Chenopodiaceae family, genus Atriplex.
What habitat does Atriplex polycarpa grow in?
Atriplex polycarpa grows in Alkaline 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.