Atriplex hymenelytra
desert holly
Overview
An evergreen desert shrub growing 1–3 feet (30–90 cm) tall and as wide, forming a rounded, densely branched mound. Leaves are stiff, rounded to triangular, 0.5–1.5 inches (1.3–4 cm) long, with toothed, holly-like margins and a silvery-white surface coated in salt-secreting scales that reflect sunlight. Plants are male or female on separate individuals. Small greenish flowers without petals appear from winter to spring, the female flowers followed by papery, rounded, pinkish to straw-colored bracts that enclose the seeds. Bloom occurs from January to April. The pale bracts persist on female plants into summer. The shrub grows from a deep root system adapted to saline desert soils and withstands extreme heat and drought by reflecting light and limiting water loss. Growth is slow. Foliage becomes more silvery and curled under drought stress and greener after rain.
Native Range
Native to the deserts of the southwestern United States and northwestern Mexico, including the Mojave and Sonoran deserts of California, Nevada, Arizona, Utah, and Baja California. Grows on dry, rocky slopes, desert washes, and saline flats below 4,000 feet (1,200 m).Suggested Uses
Grown in desert and xeriscape gardens, rock gardens, and unirrigated landscapes at 2–3 foot (0.6–0.9 m) spacing. Used on hot, dry, saline sites and reflected-heat areas where few shrubs survive. Suited to desert climates and not to humid regions or irrigated beds.How to Identify
Appearance
Size & Dimensions
Height1' - 3'
Width/Spread1' - 3'
Reaches mature size in approximately 5 years
Bloom Information
Flowers from January to April, with timing tied to winter and spring rainfall. The greenish flowers are small, while the rounded papery seed bracts on female plants are more conspicuous and persist from spring into summer. Flowering is sparse in drought years.
Detailed Descriptions
Foliage Description
Silvery-whiteGrowing 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
Care & Maintenance
Care Guide
Grows in full sun in dry, rocky or sandy, often saline soils with sharp drainage. Water is needed only to establish young plants; established shrubs survive on rainfall and decline with regular irrigation or in poorly drained soils. It tolerates intense heat, salinity, and reflected sun. Overwatering and humidity cause root and crown rot. Few pests affect it. The seeds are eaten by desert birds, and the foliage is browsed by desert mammals.Pruning
Little pruning is needed. Dead or damaged stems can be removed at any time. Light shaping after flowering keeps the mound dense. Hard pruning into old wood regrows slowly in the dry climate.Pruning Schedule
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
spring