Plant Type

Broadleaf Evergreen, Shrub

 

Height Range

3-6'

 

Flower Color

Green, Yellow

 

Flower Season

Spring, Summer

 

Leaf Color

Grey Green, Grey, Silver

 

Bark Color

Brown, Grey

 

Fruit Color

Brown, Green

 

Fruit Season

Summer, Fall

Sun

Full

 

Water

Very Low, Low

 

Growth Rate

Moderate

 

Soil Type

Sandy, Clay, Loam, Rocky, Unparticular

 

Soil Condition

Average, Poor, Well-drained, Dry

 

Soil pH

Neutral, Basic

 

Adverse Factors

Allergenic, Invasive

Design Styles

Meadow, Ranch, Spanish

 

Accenting Features

Unusual Foliage

 

Seasonal Interest

Winter, Spring, Summer, Fall

 

Location Uses

Background, Shrub Border, Foundation, With Rocks

 

Special Uses

Erosion Control, Hedge, Mass Planting, Naturalizing

 

Attracts Wildlife

Birds, Wildlife

Fourwing Saltbush, a tough Utah native, is a 4 to 6 foot tall and wide evergreen shrub with a rounded, though a bit irregular, habit. Its leaves are narrowly oblong, spoon-shaped, and whitish to silvery grey. The flowers are inconspicuous, but are followed by interesting, four-winged tan bracts that are persistent, and incidentally, are great in dried arrangements. Bark is greyish brown and exfoliating. There is a great deal of variability between plants, and so its best use is probably in a naturally styled landscape, and as winter forage in a wildlife landscape.

A very adaptable plant, tolerating a wide variety of conditions, except not tolerant of wet soils or shade. Grow in full sun, even southern or western exposures, in nearly any well-draining soil. Tolerates soil pH up to 8.5. It is very drought tolerant, requiring no supplemental watering after establishment. Cut back hard every few years in late winter to early spring to keep a tidy form.