Salsola ryanii
(c) Trevor Harding, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Chenopodiaceae · Type: Annual · Not Native
Conservation status: Cal-IPC Yes
Salsola ryanii is a non-native California annual in the Chenopodiaceae family, recognized by rounded habit, spoon-shaped smallest wings.
Tumbleweed ryanii is a naturalized annual found in the southern Sacramento Valley, southern San Joaquin Valley, and southern Coast Ranges in disturbed places at elevations below 350 meters. Flowering from June to October, this plant produces small white to green flowers with translucent margins and sharp-pointed sepals. Growing to nearly 2 meters tall with a rounded, loosely branched form, it develops longitudinally ribbed stems that are occasionally red-striped. Its leaves transition from opposite to alternate, becoming rigid with wider bases and sharp-pointed or spiny tips that are leathery in texture. The distinctive fruit features five wings with smooth to unevenly scalloped margins, with the smallest wing shaped like a spoon.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 4 sympatric species; key features are rounded habit, spoon-shaped smallest wings
Habitat and range
Habitat: Uncommon. Disturbed places
Elevation: < 350(800) m
Bloom period
Salsola ryanii blooms Jun-Oct.
Conservation status
Cal-IPC Yes
How to tell it apart
vs Suaeda: Salsola leaves taper to sharp spine tips; Suaeda leaves have soft rounded tips.; vs Amaranthus: Salsola has spine-tipped thread-like leaves; Amaranthus has broad soft leaves without spines.; vs Artemisia: Salsola has spine-tipped succulent leaves; Artemisia has soft, aromatic, often divided gray leaves.; vs Dittrichia: Salsola has spine-tipped cylindrical leaves; Dittrichia has soft sticky leaves and yellow daisy flowers.; vs Eriogonum: Salsola has spine-tipped thread-like leaves; Eriogonum has soft leaves clustered at base with woolly undersides.
Frequently asked questions
Is Salsola ryanii native to California?
No. Salsola ryanii is not native to California (recorded as not native).
When does Salsola ryanii bloom?
Salsola ryanii blooms Jun-Oct.
What plant family does Salsola ryanii belong to?
Salsola ryanii is in the Chenopodiaceae family, genus Salsola.
Is Salsola ryanii invasive in California?
Salsola ryanii is listed by Cal-IPC with an invasiveness rating of Yes.
What habitat does Salsola ryanii grow in?
Salsola ryanii grows in Uncommon. Disturbed places.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · CalPhotos
Last updated 2026-09-30
Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Cal-IPC, and more.