Shadscale Saltbush

Shadscale forms hybrids with Atriplex canescens, A. garrettii, A. corrugata, and A. gardneri varieties. It is, however, closely allied to A. parryi and A. spinifera. The plants are widely dispersed, typically on saline substrates but less commonly on essentially non-saline ones, through large areas of the western United States and adjacent Canada and Mexico, on both raw and exposed geological strata and on alluvium.

Shrubs, dioecious, 3-8 dm, spinescent. Leaves persistent, alternate; petiole 1-4 mm; blade orbiculate to ovate, elliptic, or oval, 9-25(-45) × 4-20(-25) mm, margin entire, apex obtuse. Staminate flowers yellow, in clusters 2-4 mm wide or in spikes to 1 cm, axillary, in foliose-bracteate, divaricately branched panicles 3-15 cm. Pistillate flowers in similar paniculate inflorescences. Fruiting bracteoles sessile or subsessile, suborbiculate to rhombic or elliptic, 4-12 mm and wide, body indurate, terminal teeth distinct, foliaceous, shorter than bracteoles, entire or toothed below, terminal teeth spreading at maturity, faces smooth, lacking appendages. Seeds 1.5-2 mm wide. 2n = 18, 36, 54+.

Ariz., Calif., Colo., Idaho, Mont., Nev., N.Mex., N.Dak., Oreg., Tex., Utah, Wyo.

Flowering spring-fall.

Gravelly to fine-textured soils in greasewood, mat-atriplex, other salt desert shrub, sagebrush, pinyon-juniper, and ponderosa pine communities; 600-2200m.

Obione confertifolia Torrey & Frémont in J. C. Frémont, Rep. Exped. Rocky Mts., 318. 1845; Atriplex collina Wooton & Standley; A. subconferta Rydberg; O. rigida Torrey & Frémont

shadscale saltbush

spiny saltbush

sheep-fat

More info for the terms: cover, shrub

Within shrub steppe of southwestern Idaho, shadscale saltbush provides cover for sage sparrows, Brewer's sparrows, sage thrashers, and western meadowlarks [97]. In the Great Basin it provides cover for rodents and small game [55]. Overall cover value has been rated as follows [51,101]:

CO ND OR UT WY Pronghorn ---- Poor ---- Poor Poor Elk ---- ---- ---- Poor Poor Mule deer ---- Poor Poor Poor Poor White-tailed deer ---- ---- ---- ---- Poor Small mammals Fair ---- ---- Good Fair Small nongame birds Fair ---- ---- Fair Fair Upland gamebirds ---- ---- ---- Fair Poor Waterfowl ---- ---- ---- Poor Poor

More info for the terms: density, diploid, fruit, seed, shrub, utricle

Shadscale saltbush is a densely clumped [19], rounded, compact native shrub [113,125]. It generally attains heights of 8 to 32 inches (20-81 cm) and widths of 12 to 68 inches (30-173 cm). Shadscale saltbush is considered an evergreen [28] to partially deciduous shrub [86], since a small percentage of leaves are dropped in the winter [137]. Branches are rigid, smooth when young [19], and spinescent with age [19,86,113,125]. The fruit is a small utricle (4-12 mm long and wide) that typically bears 1 seed. Seeds are from 0.06 to 0.08 inch (1.5-2 mm) broad [153]. 

Shadscale saltbush possesses a deep extensive rooting network [79,86]. Hodgkinson and others [79] report that the majority of  roots from plants in northern Utah were fine roots (less than 0.02 inch (<0.5 mm) in width). Wallace and others [150] report a root:shoot ratio of less than 1, excluding fine roots. Hodgkinson and others [79] evaluated root distribution within northern Utah. No significant difference (p< 0.05) in fine shadscale saltbush root (<0.5 mm) density under and between shadscale saltbush plants was observed until 29.5 inches (75 cm) below the soil surface.

Shadscale saltbush possesses wider ecological amplitude than most Atriplex species [48], and shows ploidy levels from diploid (2x) to decaploid (10x). Morphological subdivisions can be made in relation to environmental constraints. Plants of the Great Basin have relatively narrower leaves and darker spines, whereas plants of the Colorado Plateau generally have larger leaves and lighter colored spines [128].

Shadscale saltbush is relatively short lived [19,38].

North to south, shadscale saltbush is distributed from Oregon to Mexico [129]. It occurs from western Texas northwest to California, Oregon, and Montana, and northeast from Texas to North Dakota [57]. The greatest shadscale saltbush concentration is found within the Great Basin and Colorado Plateau [86]. Distribution of shadscale saltbush. Map courtesy of USDA, NRCS. 2018. The PLANTS Database. National Plant Data Team, Greensboro, NC [2018, July 3] [145].

More info for the terms: fire frequency, fire regime, frequency, fuel, presence, seed, shrub, shrubs

Historically, shadscale saltbush dominant salt-desert shrub communities were free of exotic invaders, and seeded range grasses produced relatively low amounts of fine fuels [123]. A lack of continuous fuels to carry fires made fire rare to non-existent in shadscale saltbush communities [161].

Increased presence of exotic annual grasses has greatly altered FIRE REGIMES in areas of the Intermountain West where shadscale saltbush is a major vegetational component. Exotic annuals increase fire frequency under wet to near-normal summer moisture conditions. Relatively high moisture levels promote the spread of exotic annuals and the increased production of fine fuels. Fine fuels generated by annual grasses are long lived because grass biomass decomposes slowly under the continually low atmospheric moisture conditions inherent to the Intermountain Region. In general, wet years followed by dry years increase the probability of fire, with large fires most likely in July or August [96]. Fuel loads for shadscale saltbush/black greasewood have been measured at 250 to 750 lb/acre [121].

Late-succession shadscale saltbush communities of Nevada naturally revegetate within 5 postfire years, generally producing a stand of 2 to 5 shrubs per meter. Recolonization occurs solely from soil seed reserves [162].

FIRE REGIMES:
FIRE REGIMES for plant communities and ecosystems in which shadscale saltbush occurs are summarized below. Find further fire regime information for the plant communities in which this species may occur by entering the species name in the FEIS home page under "Find FIRE REGIMES". Community or Ecosystem Dominant Species Fire Return Interval Range (years) sagebrush steppe Artemisia tridentata/Pseudoroegneria spicata 20-70 [121] Wyoming big sagebrush A. t. var. wyomingensis 10-70 (40**) [148,160] saltbush-greasewood Atriplex confertifolia-Sarcobatus vermiculatus western juniper Juniperus occidentalis 20-70  creosotebush Larrea tridentata pinyon-juniper Pinus-Juniperus spp. 121] (**mean)

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More info for the terms: chamaephyte, phanerophyte

RAUNKIAER [126] LIFE FORM:
Phanerophyte
Chamaephyte

Shadscale saltbush occurs in arid climates [26,86] that receive 4 to 8 inches (100-200 mm) of precipitation annually. It occurs on dry slopes, flat areas, ridges, and valley bottoms [86]. Shadscale saltbush is a facultative halophyte [28,48,68,78,94]. Salts are concentrated in trichomes and deposited on leaf surfaces [28]. It is tolerant of arid conditions [28,102,131]. Plants remain photosynthetically active down to -11.5 mP [48] and from a temperature range of  23 degrees to 122 degrees Fahrenheit (5-50 °C). However, shadscale saltbush is less adapted to drought than many of its common associates [81,147], showing high mortality during periods of prolonged drought [131]. Tolerance to drought is achieved through partial shedding of leaves; this reduces water loss during severe moisture stress [102].

Soils:
Shadscale saltbush prefers well-drained [43,59,68], moderately saline soils [19,43] where groundwater is below the rooting zone. In general shadscale saltbush inhabits a wide variety of soil types, possessing no comprehensive edaphic restrictions [78]. It may inhabit a wide variety of textural classes [21,24,153], from fine [19,86,153] to sandy [86] and gravelly soils [86,153]. Shadscale saltbush is considered an indicator of subsoil salinity [13]. Shadscale saltbush prefers saline soils where salt concentrations are greatest at deeper soil levels (36 to 60 inches (91-152 cm)) [43,68], with relatively lower salt concentrations in surface soil levels (0 to 18 inches (0-46 cm)) [68]. However, shadscale saltbush performs well under a variety of salt concentrations [68,78,94]. Kleinkopf and others [94] observed shadscale saltbush seedling growth under a wide salt gradient in the greenhouse. Moderate (50 ml/l) levels of salt were beneficial, whereas higher levels were detrimental to growth. Maximum yield occurred at 50 ml/l of sodium chloride.

Shadscale saltbush does not require large amounts of soil nitrogen. Goodman [69] found nitrogen fertilization produced no significant increase (p<0.05) in biomass. 

Regional:
In Arizona shadscale saltbush mainly occurs on dry plains and mesas [91]. In California shadscale saltbush is found east of the Sierra Nevada [77] in valley bottoms [6] and in the Mojave Desert [77]. The drainage bottoms of enclosed basins or marine shale outcrops are preferred sites within the Great Basin Desert [19]. In Nevada, Break and Jenkins [29] observed significantly greater (p<0.007) shadscale saltbush coverage in coarse rocky habitat (49% sand, 51% rock) compared to sandy habitat (64% sand, 33% rock). Shadscale saltbush also occurs on nonsaline slopes of western and central Nevada below big sagebrush communities [43]. In central Utah shadscale saltbush is found within arid valleys on relatively high saline soils [61]. Alkaline plains and hills are preferred in Wyoming [54]. Within the upper Snake River Plain of southeastern Idaho, shadscale saltbush communities occur in depressions and open areas on alkaline soils [5]. In the Trans-Pecos area of Texas, shadscale saltbush is found in eroded deserts, alkaline basins, flats, hills, and bluffs [125].

Elevation by state is as follows:

Arizona 2,500 to 5,000 feet (762-1,524 m) [91]
California less than 7,870 feet (< 2,400 m) [77]
Colorado 4,500 to 7,500 feet (1,372-2,286 m) [76]
New Mexico 5,000 to 6,500 feet (1,524-1,981 m) [105]
Texas 4,000 to 6,000 feet (1,219-1,829 m) [149]
Utah 2,790 to 7,020 feet (850-2,140 m) [153]

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This species is known to occur in association with the following cover types (as classified by the Society of American Foresters):

More info for the term: cover

SAF COVER TYPES [60]:




237 Interior ponderosa pine

238 Western juniper

239 Pinyon-juniper

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This species is known to occur in the following ecosystem types (as named by the U.S. Forest Service in their Forest and Range Ecosystem [FRES] Type classification):

More info for the term: shrub

ECOSYSTEMS [65]:




FRES21 Ponderosa pine

FRES29 Sagebrush

FRES30 Desert shrub

FRES35 Pinyon-juniper

FRES40 Desert grasslands

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This species is known to occur in association with the following plant community types (as classified by Küchler 1964):

More info for the terms: forest, woodland

KUCHLER [99] PLANT ASSOCIATIONS:




K016 Eastern ponderosa forest

K023 Juniper-pinyon woodland

K038 Great Basin sagebrush

K039 Blackbrush

K040 Saltbush-greasewood

K041 Creosote bush

K046 Desert: vegetation largely lacking

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This species is known to occur in association with the following Rangeland Cover Types (as classified by the Society for Range Management, SRM):

More info for the terms: cover, shrub, woodland

SRM (RANGELAND) COVER TYPES [134]:




211 Creosotebush scrub

403 Wyoming big sagebrush

405 Black sagebrush

408 Other sagebrush types

412 Juniper-pinyon woodland

414 Salt desert shrub

501 Saltbush-greasewood

506 Creosotebush-bursage

508 Creosotebush-tarbush

Shadscale saltbush is generally killed by fire [10,33].

More info for the terms: cover, fruit, seed, shrub, shrubs

Shadscale saltbush is a valuable browse species [153], providing a source of palatable, nutritious forage for a wide variety of wildlife and livestock [19]. The fruits and leaves are a food source for deer [113,125], desert bighorn sheep [25], pronghorn [3,11,136], small rodents [118], jackrabbits [49,56,113], game birds, and songbirds [113].

Big game:
Shadscale saltbush is good browse for mule deer [125], which feed upon shadscale saltbush during winter, spring, and fall in the Rocky Mountains [100]. Shadscale saltbush is a minor component of desert bighorn sheep diets [25]. Although it is not preferred [11,136], shadscale saltbush may provide winter forage for pronghorn [3].

Small mammals:
Shadscale saltbush habitats of northeastern Nevada are important home ranges for small mammals. Chisel-toothed kangaroo rats feed on shadscale saltbush foliage and use shadscale saltbush habitats during the spring, summer, and fall. Deer mice use shadscale saltbush habitats all year [118]. Shadscale saltbush leaves and seeds are preferred forage for jackrabbits [49,56]. The Great Basin kangaroo rat also feeds on shadscale saltbush foliage [103].

Birds:
The loss of shadscale saltbush and associated shrubs in southwestern Idaho has a negative effect on golden eagle habitat. Areas of shadscale saltbush shrub-steppe provide cover and forage for black-tailed jackrabbits, which are a major food source of golden eagles. Kochert and others [98] recommend maintaining shrub steppe within 1.9 miles (3.0 km) of golden eagle nests [125].

Several species of birds eat shadscale saltbush fruit [125].

Livestock:
Shadscale saltbush provides good browse for domestic sheep [125,153] and goats [125]. Shadscale saltbush leaves and seeds are an important component of domestic sheep and cattle winter diets [19,45,70,143]. The spiny branches are unsuitable for cattle [19]. Shadscale saltbush is an important forage for domestic sheep on winter ranges of the Great Basin. Greatest use was observed before seed dissemination, after which use declined except when other forage was covered with snow [71]. In the Mojave Desert shadscale saltbush is moderately preferred by domestic sheep, which use it early in the grazing season [124]. The spinescence of shadscale saltbush allows for no more than 15 to 20% use of previous herbage growth by domestic sheep [81].

More info for the term: shrub

Shrub

More info for the terms: Pleistocene, competition, presence

Extensive shadscale saltbush die-off occurred within the Great Basin from 1977 to 1986, during a
historically high period of precipitation. Greatest die-off was from 1983 to 1985. Areas
of severe die-off were most often within valley bottoms or upland depressions where prolonged
periods of high soil moisture occurred [116]. Several theories for causative agents
have been presented
[115,116,152]. Prolonged periods of high soil moisture are believed to increase shadscale saltbush's susceptibility
to parasites and disease [152]. Shadscale saltbush is very susceptible to water mold, root
rot, and vascular wilt fungi [116]. Mealy bugs and scale insects found in the crown and upper
root zone of shadscale saltbush may also lead to high mortality [115]. Weber and others [152] found high
soil conductivity and moisture significantly (p<0.05) correlated with shadscale saltbush die-off. This,
in conjunction with genetically uniform populations within the Pleistocene lake bottoms of the Great
Basin, lends to large-scale disease outbreak.



Walser and others [151] evaluated cold hardiness of shadscale saltbush between December and
March. Observations suggest
that -67 degrees Fahrenheit (-55 °C) in December and -53 degrees Fahrenheit (-47 °C) in March are sufficient to damage
plants so that upcoming summer stress results in high mortality. If a cold spell is
preceded by temperatures greater than freezing, the cold tolerance of shadscale saltbush is greatly reduced.



Pocket gophers may kill shadscale saltbush by severing the stem while feeding on roots [21].



Grazing:

In shadscale saltbush communities of the Great Basin, grazing pressure has increased the overall presence of
exotic annuals such as cheatgrass, halogeton, and Russian-thistle (Salsola kali). However,
Harper and others [75] observed grazed shadscale saltbush communities suppressed growth of exotic annuals.
At the present time, the ability to indefinitely suppress of exotic annuals through close
management is still under
question.



The spinescent habit of shadscale saltbush lends to its browsing tolerance [19,85]. Increased
presence of shadscale saltbush within grazed versus ungrazed areas is generally a result of the
decreased competition from more heavily browsed associates [19,39,81]. Reduced competition
from more palatable species in heavily grazed areas may increase shadscale saltbush germination
and establishment. Chambers and Norton [38] found shadscale saltbush establishment higher under spring
than winter browsing as well as heavy compared to light browsing (p<0.01).



Within the northern Great Plains (Montana), shadscale saltbush is most tolerant of intermediate
livestock stocking rates [82].
Hutchings [84] recommends 25% use of annual shadscale saltbush growth within winter ranges of Utah, Nevada, southern
Idaho, and southwest Wyoming.
Cook and Child [44] found shadscale saltbush was most tolerant of light (30% overall herbage removal) winter
browsing. Heavy (90% herbage removal) grazing during spring and/or winter
reduces shadscale saltbush. Shadscale saltbush is also tolerant of early spring (1 April) light-intensity browsing.



During years of below average precipitation, shadscale saltbush is very susceptible to grazing pressure
regardless of season (grazing × season × intensity interaction effects,  p<0.05) in Desert Experimental
Range, Utah [38].

Shadscale saltbush provides 50 and 55% of winter range requirements for phosphorus and energy, respectively [46].



Average chemical composition of shadscale saltbush during winter in desert ranges of Intermountain Region was [45]:




Ether extract (%)
Total protein (%)
Ash (%)
Lignin (%)
Cellulose (%)
Other carbohydrates (%)
Gross energy (kcal/lb)
P (%)
Carotene (mg/lb)

2.4
7.7
23.4
13.0
17.6
35.7
1648
0.09
8.9




Average digestibility of the chemical constituents, digestible protein, and metabolizable energy
of shadscale saltbush during winter in desert ranges was [45]:




Ether extract (%)
Total protein (%)
Cellulose (%)
Other carbohydrate (%)
Gross energy (%)
Dry matter (%)
Digestible protein (%)
Metabolizable energy (kcal/lb)

32.7
55.4
26.1
55.1
34.5
42.6
4.3
399

AZ CA CO ID MT ND
NM NV OR TX UT WY

MEXICO

Historically, shadscale saltbush was a food source for native Americans of the southwestern United States [37]. Seeds were used by native Americans of Arizona, Utah and Nevada for bread and mush [57].

Shadscale saltbush is palatable to all domestic grazing animals [113]. Seeds are the most palatable
part of shadscale saltbush. During moist weather branches are softened, increasing palatability [158].
Shadscale saltbush palatability is summarized below by state [51]:





CO
MT
ND
OR
UT
WY

Cattle
Fair
Fair
Fair
----
Fair
Poor

Domestic sheep
Good
Good
Good
----
Good
Fair

Horses
Poor
Fair
Fair
----
Poor
Fair

Pronghorn
----
Poor
Fair
Good
Fair
Poor

Elk
----
----
----
----
Poor
Poor

Mule deer
----
Poor
Fair
Poor
Poor
Fair

White-tailed deer
----
----
----
----
Poor
Poor

Small Mammals
Fair
----
----
----
Fair
Fair

Small nongame birds
Fair
----
----
----
Fair
Fair

Upland game birds
----
----
----
----
Fair
Poor

Waterfowl
----
----
----
----
Poor
Poor

More info for the terms: density, forb, frequency, seed

Shadscale saltbush is fire intolerant [10,33]. It does not readily recover from fire, except for establishment through seed [129,154].

Fall prescribed burning killed 100% of shadscale saltbush on study plots in a basin big sagebrush community in east-central Oregon. Spring burning left a few surviving shadscale saltbush plants but greatly reduced shadscale saltbush density and frequency (P<0.1) [130]. See the Research Project Summary of this study for more information on fire effects on shadscale saltbush and 60 additional woody plant, grass, and forb species.

More info for the terms: association, dioecious, seed

Shadscale saltbush is dioecious [113,153] and reproduces solely through seed [129]. Staminate flowers occur in clusters or in spikes [153], with pistillate flowers found near the end of smaller branches, at the base of leaves [113]. Flowers are wind pollinated resulting in "fairly" successful seed production [20,113].

The mechanisms behind shadscale saltbush germination are unclear. Laboratory germination experiments by Meyer and others [110] found a positive response to chilling that was enhanced further by dry storage. Seeds most responsive to chilling treatments were collected from warm desert fringe areas in northern Arizona and southern Utah. Freshly harvested seeds from these areas showed 20 to 50% germination after chilling and 3 years of storage. Chilling temperatures were 34 to 36 degrees Fahrenheit (1-2 °C). Seeds collected from cold desert areas were variable in their response to chilling. The pronounced seed bracts of shadscale saltbush provide a mechanical barrier to germination and must break down before seeds can germinate [55]. Vest [147] found fungal colonies reduced the hardness of shadscale saltbush bracteoles, facilitating germination. The slow breakdown of seed bracts may delay germination until favorable growing conditions exist [55]. The removal of dormancy in a fraction of the seed population each year spreads risk associated with germination over many years, increasing probability of establishment [110].

Within a blackbrush association of Nevada, Schultz and Ostler [132] observed little shadscale saltbush seedling recruitment until a large die-off of existing shadscale saltbush plants occurred. Seedling recruitment occurred most often under the skeleton of dead shadscale saltbush plants, after high mortality from prolonged drought. Gasto [67] observed no direct correlation between seedling emergence and location of mature plant. However, greater survival occurred when seedlings were adjacent to larger living shadscale saltbush individuals.

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This species can be found in the following regions of the western United States (according to the Bureau of Land Management classification of Physiographic Regions of the western United States):

BLM PHYSIOGRAPHIC REGIONS [12]:




5 Columbia Plateau

6 Upper Basin and Range

7 Lower Basin and Range

8 Northern Rocky Mountains

9 Middle Rocky Mountains

10 Wyoming Basin

11 Southern Rocky Mountains

12 Colorado Plateau

13 Rocky Mountain Piedmont

14 Great Plains

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The successional timeline of a shadscale saltbush community is generally slow in both grazed and ungrazed areas [27].

The scientific name of shadscale saltbush is Atriplex confertifolia
(Torr & Frem) (Chenopodiaceae) [77,90,91,153].



Shadscale saltbush hybridizes naturally with fourwing saltbush (A. canescens) [77,153],
Garrett's saltbush (A. garrettii), mat saltbush (A. corrugata) [74,141,153], Gardner's saltbush (A. gardneri) [153],
and valley saltbush (A. cuneata) [141]. Crosses with Garrett's saltbush produce completely sterile hybrids. Mat
saltbush × shadscale saltbush crosses produce nearly sterile hybrids [74].

More info for the terms: Pleistocene, adventitious, diploid, fresh, natural, ploidy level, scarification, seed

Revegetation of shadscale saltbush communities is inherently difficult [21,162]. Dry soil surfaces resulting from low humidity, high irradiation, and moderate to strong winds are major obstacles in revegetation projects [21].

The extensive polyploidy of shadscale saltbush is an important consideration when implementing revegetation projects [36,129] because ploidy levels are usually associated with distinct habitats. Diploid individuals are unlikely to perform as well in areas where tetraploids are more common. Diploid individuals generally occur above Pleistocene lake levels, whereas lake floors are usually occupied by autotetraploids. Octoploids generally occur at lower bottoms. Overall, tetraploids are the most widespread throughout its range [36]. Shadscale saltbush ploidy level may be determined through pyrolysis-gas chromatographic fingerprinting [138]. Sanderson and others [128] provide a list of ploidy levels for shadscale saltbush individuals inhabiting specific localities within Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho, New Mexico, Nevada, Oregon, Utah, and Wyoming, along with comparisons of morphology.

Seeding:
Due to the complex mechanisms behind shadscale saltbush seed dormancy, revegetation through seed is usually unsuccessful [55,63,111,162]. Garvin and others [66] document difficulty in breaking seed dormancy. Results from a comprehensive review of literature suggest a staggered germination pattern resulting in increased probability of survival under specific germination conditions. However, dormancy mechanisms controlling germination patterns are still unknown to an "agronomic" level of predictability. Dumas and Sanders [55] found mechanical scarification increased germination by 15% within growth chambers. Garvin and others [66] provide recommendations to improve artificial regeneration on rangelands:

• Choose similar source and planting sites
• Use high fill seed lots (> 50%) or consider fill % when calculating planting rate; fresh seed shows greater germination the 2nd spring
• Plant in early fall to receive beneficial effects of natural leaching, oxidative processes, and winter chilling

Hall and Anderson [72] were successful revegetating disturbed areas of  Nellis Air Force Range, Nevada with seeded shadscale saltbush. Seeding resulted in 1 plant/m2 after 2 years.

Cuttings/seed grown transplants:
Establishment of shadscale saltbush from container stock provides the highest probability for successful revegetation [41,48]. Cuttings from juvenile plants readily propagate [157]. Crofts and Van Epps [48] recommend taking cuttings in fall or early spring and placing in a medium with good aeration.

Richardson and others [127] found no difference in the rooting ability of stems cut from different sexes. Stem cuttings treated with 0.3 indolebutyric acid (IBA) talc powder [86,127] resulted in the highest production of adventitious roots. Higher concentrations of IBA slightly reduced the overall percentage of stem cuttings with adventitious roots but had no negative effect on root development after initiation [127]. High humidity must be maintained during propagation. The rooting medium should allow for good aeration and drainage and still maintain relatively high water-holding capacity [86].

Shadscale saltbush establishes well from transplants when put out in the early spring, after 6 weeks of high soil moisture [20]. McKell [107] has shown success revegetating with container grown shadscale saltbush transplants. Seed-grown stock is available commercially [7].

Atriplex confertifolia, the shadscale or spiny saltbush, is a species of evergreen shrub in the family Amaranthaceae, which is native to the western United States and northern Mexico.