+-----------------------------------------------------------------------+
| **FOURWING SALTBUSH**                                                 |
|                                                                       |
| ***Atriplex canescens***                                              |
|                                                                       |
| **(Pursh) Nutt.**                                                     |
|                                                                       |
| plant symbol = ATCA2                                                  |
+-----------------------------------------------------------------------+

Contributed By: USDA NRCS Idaho State Office & Aberdeen Plant Materials
Center

# Alternate Names![](media/image5.jpeg){width="2.7888888888888888in" height="1.8430555555555554in"}

Chamise, chamize, chamiso, white greasewood, saltsage, fourwing
shadscale, bushy atriplex

# 

# Uses

*Rangeland/Grazing:* fourwing saltbush is highly palatable browse for
most livestock and big game. It is used primarily in the winter at which
time it is high in carotene and averages about four percent digestible
protein. The leaves may be as high as 18 percent total protein. It is
grazed by all classes of livestock except horses.

*Wildlife:* fourwing saltbush provides excellent browse for deer season
long. It is a good browse plant for bighorn sheep, antelope, and elk in
fall and winter. It is also a food source and excellent cover for
sharptail grouse, gray partridge (Huns), sage grouse, and other upland
birds, rabbits, songbirds, and small mammals.

*Erosion Control:* fourwing saltbush makes excellent screens, hedges,
and barriers. It is especially useful on saline-sodic soils. It has
excellent drought tolerance. It has been planted in highway medians and
on road shoulders, slopes, and other disturbed areas near roadways.
Because it is a good wildlife browse species, caution is recommended in
using it in plantings along roadways. Its extensive root system provides
excellent erosion control.

*Reclamation:* fourwing saltbush is used extensively for reclamation of
disturbed sites (mine lands, drill pads, exploration holes, etc,). It
provides excellent species diversity for mine land reclamation projects.

*Ethnobotanical:* American Indians boiled fresh roots with a little salt
and drank half-cupful doses for stomach pain and as a laxative. Roots
were also ground and applied as a toothache remedy. Leaf or root tea was
taken as an emetic for stomach pain and bad coughs. Soapy lather from
leaves was used for itching and rashes from chickenpox or measles. Fresh
leaf or a poultice of fresh or dried flowers was applied to ant bites.
Leaves were used as a snuff for nasal problems. Smoke from burning
leaves was used to revive someone who was injured, weak, or feeling
faint. Hispanics use the plant for colds and flu.

# Status

Consult the PLANTS Web site and your State Department of Natural
Resources for this plant's current status, such as state noxious status
and wetland indicator values.

# Description

Fourwing saltbush is a polymorphic species varying from deciduous to
evergreen, depending on climate. Its much-branched stems are stout with
whitish bark. Mature plants range from 1 to over 8 feet in height,
depending on ecotype and the soil and climate. Its leaves are simple,
alternate, entire, linear-spatulate to narrowly oblong, canescent
(covered with fine whitish hairs) and ½ to 2 inches long. Its root
system is branched and commonly very deep (to 20 feet) when soil depth
allows.

Fourwing saltbush is mostly dioecious, with male and female flowers on
separate plants. Male flowers are red to yellow and form dense spikes at
the ends of the branches. The female flowers are axillary and
nondescript. However, some monecious plants may be found within a
population. Fourwing saltbush plants can exhibit hermaphroditic
characteristics (male and female parts in one flower). The seed is
contained in utricles that turn a dull yellow when ripe and may remain
attached to the plant throughout winter.

Fourwing saltbush derives its name from the four membranous 'winged'
capsules, which encompass the seed. It is most commonly called fourwing
saltbush, but is also known as chamise, chamize, chamiso, white
greasewood, saltsage, fourwing shadscale, and bushy atriplex.

# Distribution

Fourwing saltbush (*Atriplex canescens* (Pursh) Nutt*.* is one of the
most widely distributed and important native shrubs on rangelands in the
western United States including the Intermountain, Great Basin, and
Great Plains regions. Its natural range extends from below sea level to
above 8,000 feet elevation. For current distribution, consult the Plant
Profile page for this species on the PLANTS Web site.

# Adaptation 

Fourwing saltbush is adapted to most soils but is best suited to deep,
well drained; loamy to sandy to gravely soils. It is sometimes found
growing in dense clay soils. It is very tolerant of saline soil
conditions and somewhat tolerant of sodic soil conditions. Under saline
conditions plants take up salts and accumulate it in the plants scurfy
leaf coverings.

Fourwing saltbush has high tolerance to boron. It does not tolerate high
water tables or late winter inundation. It is extremely drought tolerant
and has fair shade tolerance. It is not very tolerant of fire, but may
resprout to some degree if fire intensity is not too severe. Its ability
to tolerate extreme cold conditions varies with ecotype.

Fourwing saltbush most commonly grows in areas that receive 8 to 14
inches annual precipitation. It can be found from sea level to 8,000
feet elevation. Depending on ecotype, fourwing saltbush grows in
association with bluebunch wheatgrass, basin wildrye, bottlebrush
squirreltail, Indian ricegrass, Sandberg bluegrass, sand dropseed, blue
grama, galleta, black grama, alkali sacaton, inland saltgrass,
globemallow, greasewood, rabbitbrush, shadscale, Nuttall or Gardner
saltbush, winterfat, bud sagebrush, black sagebrush, low sagebrush,
Wyoming big sagebrush, and basin big sagebrush.

# Establishment

*Planting:* Fourwing saltbush begins growth in mid to late spring. Seed
matures 3 to 4 months after flowering. It typically spreads via seed
distribution, but may also root sprout following wildfire or layer if
covered with sand. Stands typically take three to four years to
establish, but once established the plants are fairly competitive with
other species. Fourwing saltbush can be established by transplanting in
early spring, direct seeding in late fall, early winter or very early
spring.

An adapted cultivar/release or local seed source should be used to
ensure the ecotype is compatible with the site. Seed should be
after-ripened for ten months and dewinged prior to planting. On moist
fine soils, seed should be planted ½ inch deep. On sandy to coarse
gravely soils, plant up to ¾ inch deep. Seeding rates of 0.25 to 0.50
pounds per acre is recommended for rangeland seeding mixtures (3 to 7
percent of the seeding mix). Dewinged seed is preferred because seed
flow through a drill and planting depth can be controlled more easily.
There is no prechilling requirement for fourwing saltbush seed. See Seed
Production section for additional planting recommendations

Seedling vigor is generally outstanding and depending on ecotype, young
plants may reach heights of 18 inches by the end of the first growing
season.

# Management

Fourwing saltbush is palatable to cattle, sheep and deer season long. It
provides nutritious winter browse on many areas and is a good fall and
winter browse plant for bighorn sheep, antelope, and elk.

In new plantings, utilizing good seedbed and weed control techniques
should enhance establishment and reduce competition with other plants.
In interseedings plant competition should be reduced by chemical,
scalping, furrowing or other techniques that help control existing
vegetation and weeds. Animals utilizing the area should be removed from
new plantings for at least two growing seasons or until plants are well
established and reproducing. Irrigation may be needed for transplants on
harsh sites to ensure establishment. Young seedings are not tolerant of
excessive insect, rabbit, and rodent damage and plantings may require
control measures if severe damage appears.

In established plantings, deferred rotation grazing systems are
recommended for fourwing saltbush management. Plants can be grazed from
late spring through winter, but plant health is best maintained if used
primarily as a winter browse. Fourwing saltbush tolerates browsing very
well, but will decrease in abundance under continuous close browsing.
Proper use of fourwing saltbush as browse is approximately 40 - 50
percent of current year's growth.

Excessive use results in damage or loss of plants from breakage of
brittle branches. During dry periods, branches and stems may be brittle
and trampling by livestock may damage plants. Damaged plants generally
recover if rested, but production will be reduced until fully recovered.
No injury to livestock results from grazing this plant. However, it can
cause bloat and scours in spring if it is the primary dietary source.
Rabbits, rodents, and grasshoppers utilize fourwing saltbush and may
damage stands under severe conditions requiring pest control measures.

# Environmental Concerns

Fourwing saltbush is native, long-lived, and spreads primarily by seed
distribution. It is not considered \"weedy\", but could slowly spread
into adjoining vegetative communities under ideal climatic and
environmental conditions. This species is well documented as having
beneficial qualities and no negative impacts on wild or domestic
animals.

# Seed Production

Establishing plants in a greenhouse and transplanting to the field will
result in the most satisfactory stands for seed production. (Note:
studies are underway to determine the feasibility or success of
propagating fourwing saltbush from stem cuttings)

Plant spacing should be 6 to 8 feet within row and 8 to 10 feet between
rows. Planting one male plant for every 5 female plants is recommended.
Transplanting into weed barrier fabric can also improve plant
establishment, seed production, weed control, and moisture conservation.
Transplanting is recommended in the spring prior to summer heat. Full
seed production is usually reached the third year following
transplanting.

Plantings can also be established with seed. A minimum of 15 to 20 Pure
Live seeds per linear foot of drill row should be planted. Hand seeding
in late fall or very early spring may also be an option. Plant 5 to 10
seeds in a close group at desired spacing. Thin plants to desired
spacing and ratio of male to female plants when fruiting starts (about 3
years). Full seed production may be reached the fourth year following
direct seeding.

Fourwing saltbush requires an equivalent of 10 to 14 inches annual
precipitation for seed production. Irrigation may only be needed for
establishment and during drought years to ensure a seed crop. If
irrigation is available, irrigate to promote vegetative growth. Make
sure soil moisture is adequate at early flowering, during seed set and
early maturation. Irrigate to field capacity prior to fall freeze-up.
Expected seed yields may range from 200 to 400 pounds per acre.
Fertilization is not generally recommended unless soil tests indicate
severe nutrient deficiencies. Rabbits and rodents can damage stands and
may destroy seedlings. Insects such as grasshoppers and Mormon crickets
infrequently damage stands beyond recovery.

Seed generally ripens in late August and September and can be harvested
from mid September through December. Harvesting seed is best
accomplished for woody ecotypes by hand stripping. Mechanized harvesting
has been used on Wytana, but seed requires additional conditioning to
properly dry and clean out excessive trash (leaves, stems, other inert
matter). Harvested seed is usually threshed (dewinged) by processing
seed through a hammermill (1500 rpm) equipped with a ¼ inch screen and
then running seed through a fanmill to the desired grade.

Dewinging may hasten after-ripening of seed resulting in shorter
viability of seed. Seed can be stored and remain viable for 6 to 10
years. The dewinging process greatly enhances the ability of the seed to
flow through planting equipment. Removing the hull that surrounds the
embryo can injure the seed resulting in reduced viability, seedling
vigor, and stand establishment. One must be extremely careful when
threshing to limit the amount of mechanical action on the seed to
minimize damage.

Fourwing saltbush seed requires about 10 month\'s after-ripening
following harvest before accurate percent germination can be determined.
Seeds per pound will vary by accession or ecotype, but averages 38,000
seeds per pound winged and 78,000 seeds per pound dewinged.

# Cultivars, Improved and Selected Materials (and area of origin)

Foundation and registered seed is available through the appropriate
state Crop Improvement Association or commercial sources to grow
certified seed.

**\'Marana\'** fourwing saltbush was released in 1979 by the NRCS Plant
Materials Center in Lockford, California. It originated from plants near
El Cajon, California and was selected for ease of establishment and
drought resistance. It is best adapted to areas in the southwest
including southern New Mexico, southern Arizona and southern to central
California.

**'Rincon'** fourwing saltbush was selected by the Forest Service, Shrub
Science Laboratory in Provo, Utah and cooperatively released with the
NRCS Plant Materials Center, Meeker, Colorado in 1983. The original seed
was collected at Rincon Blanco near Canjilon, Rio Arriba County, New
Mexico at 7,800 feet elevation. Rincon is an erect, leafy form with
early season green-up. It is best adapted to the southwest areas of
central Utah, central Nevada, western Colorado, to central New Mexico
and central Arizona.

**'Santa Rita'** fourwing saltbush was cooperatively released by the
NRCS Plant Materials Center, Tucson, Arizona, ARS, and University of
Arizona in 1987. It is best adapted to areas in the southwest including
southern New Mexico, southern Arizona and southern to central
California.

**Snake River Plains Germplasm** fourwing saltbush was selected by the
NRCS Plant Materials Center, Aberdeen, Idaho and cooperatively released
by the Aberdeen PMC, Pullman, Washington PMC and University of Idaho in
2001. Snake River Plains Germplasm is a composite of 4 accessions of
fourwing saltbush collected from the Snake River Plains of southern
Idaho. It was selected for superior establishment and cold hardiness. It
is better adapted to the northern range of fourwing saltbush including
southern Idaho, eastern Oregon, western Wyoming, northern Utah and
northern Nevada than other fourwing saltbush releases.

**'Wytana'** fourwing saltbush was released by the NRCS Plant Materials
Center, Bridger, Montana in 1976. Wytana is a natural cross between
fourwing saltbush and Gardner or Nuttall saltbush. It is a short,
herbaceous type that is best adapted to the Great Plains and mountain
foothills of Idaho, Montana and Wyoming.

# Prepared By

*Daniel G. Ogle*

USDA NRCS Idaho State Office

Boise, Idaho

# *Loren St. John*

# USDA NRCS Plant Materials Center

# Aberdeen, Idaho

# Species Coordinator

*Daniel G. Ogle*

USDA NRCS Idaho State Office

Boise, Idaho

Edited: 05dec00jsp; 23sept02lsj; 20sept02dgo; 13feb03jsp; 14Mar05rln

For more information about this and other plants, please contact your
local NRCS field office or Conservation District, and visit the PLANTS
\<[http://plants.usda.gov](http://plants.usda.gov/)\> and Plant
Materials Program Web sites
\<[http://Plant-Materials.nrcs.usda.gov](http://Plant-Materials.nrcs.usda.gov/)\>.

*The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits discrimination in
all its programs and activities on the basis of race, color, national
origin, gender, religion, age, disability, political beliefs, sexual
orientation, and marital or family status. (Not all prohibited bases
apply to all programs.) Persons with disabilities who require
alternative means for communication of program information (Braille,
large print, audiotape, etc.) should contact USDA's TARGET Center at
202-720-2600 (voice and TDD).*

*To file a complaint of discrimination, write USDA, Director, Office of
Civil Rights, Room 326W, Whitten Building, 14th and Independence Avenue,
SW, Washington, DC 20250-9410 or call (202) 720-5964 (voice or TDD).
USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.*