Scientific Name: Atriplex paludosa subsp. paludosa
Common Name: marsh saltbush
Family Classification (Clade): Eudicots
Family: Amaranthaceae
Form Description: Erect, silvery-grey shrub covered with woolly hairs, with bluntly pointed, 1-2cm long leaves. Leaves are green on the upper surface and whitish on the lower surface.
Height (m): 0.3 – 1.5
Flowers: Cream, yellow or brown. Male flowers in spherical clusters and female flowers in spikes.
Fruit: 7-10mm long, triangular to egg-shaped.
Municipality
Plant Communities
Habitat Notes
Coastal sand dunes in the north-west, at Coles Bay on the east coast and possibly elsewhere.
Propagation Calendar
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Flowering Month
Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec -
Seed Collecting Month
Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec -
Sowing Month
Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec -
Cutting Month
Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
Propagation Method
Seed Information
Seed Collection
Seed is easy to collect and usually has good results, but viability is variable.
Seed Treatment Method
Leaching Some species require extended time in nature weathering prior to germination as chemical inhibitors are broken down in the seed coat. Replicate this process by flushing away the inhibitor with frequent washing e.g. place the seeds in a stocking in a toilet cistern and drape it over the top for easy handling.
Seed Treatment Notes
Brown seeds germinate easily, but black seeds only germinate after 3-6 years storage. 2-3 seeds can be sown directly into pots. If seed is sown while still in the fruit, the fruits are rubbed under running water for several minutes or soaked in water for eight hours, and the water changes 2 or 3 times. This removes the salt which inhibits germination.
Cutting & Division Information
Easily propagated from cuttings.