Ambrosia salsola
Cheesebush
Southwestern United States and Mexico
Overview
Ambrosia salsola is a rounded, intricately branched desert shrub in the aster family, native to the Mojave and Sonoran deserts of the southwestern United States and northwestern Mexico. It grows 2-5 feet (60-150 cm) tall and about as wide, forming a dense, broom-like mound of slender green stems that carry out photosynthesis when the plant is leafless. The few leaves are thread-like, 0.5-2 inches (1.5-5 cm) long, and shed in drought. It is wind-pollinated like its ragweed relatives: small greenish male and female flowers appear in spring and release pollen that is a known allergen. The female flowers mature into small fruits surrounded by thin, papery, whitish to rose-tinged wings that catch the wind, and these are the showiest stage. Crushed foliage gives off a sharp odor, the source of the common name cheesebush. The shrub grows in washes and sandy flats and tolerates extreme heat and drought, but it is short-lived, weedy in appearance, and its pollen limits its use near homes.
Native Range
Native to the deserts of the southwestern United States and northwestern Mexico, including the Mojave, Sonoran, and Great Basin deserts, from California and Nevada to Utah, Arizona, and Baja California, in washes, sandy flats, and roadsides.Suggested Uses
Used in desert restoration, erosion control on sandy washes, and as quick cover on disturbed ground. It shelters small desert wildlife and stabilizes loose soil. Ornamental use is limited and kept away from homes because of its allergenic pollen and weedy look.How to Identify
Appearance
Size & Dimensions
Height2' - 5'
Width/Spread3' - 5'
Bloom Information
Flowering occurs mainly in spring, from March to May, with small greenish wind-pollinated flowers that have no petals. A second flush can follow late-summer rain. The female flowers develop into papery, rose-tinged winged fruits that persist and scatter on the wind.
Detailed Descriptions
Flower Description
greenish, inconspicuousFoliage Description
greenGrowing Conditions
Sun Requirements
Requires 8-12 hours of direct sunlight daily
• Full Sun: 6+ hours of direct sunlight
• Partial Shade: 3-6 hours of direct sunlight
• Full Shade: Less than 3 hours of direct sunlight