Atriplex suberecta
Sprawling saltbush, Sprawling Saltbush
(c) Forest & Kim Starr, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Chenopodiaceae · Type: Herb · Not Native
Atriplex suberecta (Sprawling saltbush) is a non-native California herb in the Chenopodiaceae family, recognized by sprawling habit and coarsely serrate leaves distinctive.
Sprawling saltbush is a naturalized perennial herb found in southern California coastal regions, including Santa Catalina Island, San Joaquin Valley, San Francisco Bay Area, western Transverse Ranges, and desert regions at elevations below 925 meters. Flowering from March to June, this plant produces inconspicuous greenish flowers with scaly bracts. Growing with decumbent to ascending stems 20 to 60 centimeters long, it has a densely scaled base that spreads across disturbed places and fields. Its leaves are 12 to 30 millimeters long, ranging from ovate to diamond-shaped, with coarse irregular serrations and a fine scaly undersurface. The plant's compact, sprawling growth habit and scaled stems distinguish it in open, disturbed habitats.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 49 sympatric species; sprawling habit and coarsely serrate leaves distinctive
Habitat and range
Habitat: Disturbed places, fields
Elevation: < 925 m
California counties: Riverside, San Diego, Alameda, Imperial, Los Angeles, Orange, Kings, Merced, Marin, San Bernardino, Kern, Ventura, Fresno, San Joaquin, Tulare, San Luis Obispo, San Benito, Santa Barbara, Sonoma, Solano
Outside California: native to Australia
Bloom period
Atriplex suberecta blooms Mar-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 suberecta native to California?
No. Atriplex suberecta is not native to California (recorded as not native).
When does Atriplex suberecta bloom?
Atriplex suberecta blooms Mar-Jun.
Where in California does Atriplex suberecta grow?
Atriplex suberecta occurs in Riverside, San Diego, Alameda, Imperial, Los Angeles, Orange, Kings, Merced and other counties, at elevations of < 925 m.
What plant family does Atriplex suberecta belong to?
Atriplex suberecta is in the Chenopodiaceae family, genus Atriplex.
What habitat does Atriplex suberecta grow in?
Atriplex suberecta grows in Disturbed places, fields.
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.