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Enchylaena spp.
Overview
Enchylaena spp. is an Australian genus of the family Amaranthaceae, represented chiefly by E. tomentosa, ruby saltbush, a small, spreading, semi-succulent shrub of arid and coastal Australia. Plants form rounded, much-branched mounds 1 to 3 ft (0.3 to 1 m) tall and as wide, with soft, woolly stems and crowded, fleshy, cylindrical grey-green leaves up to about 0.6 in (15 mm) long. The tiny flowers are inconspicuous, but each is followed by a small, succulent fruiting body that ripens through yellow and orange to deep red, studding the bush with berry-like beads. These fleshy fruits are edible and were eaten by Aboriginal people. The species is highly tolerant of drought, salt, and poor soils, growing on saline flats, dunes, and dry inland plains. It withstands hard conditions but is frost-tender and short-lived, often behaving as a pioneer that colonises disturbed and salty ground.
Native Range
Native and widespread across mainland Australia, from arid inland plains and saline flats to coastal dunes, occurring in every mainland state.Suggested Uses
Used in dry, coastal, and saline gardens of Australia as a low, fruiting shrub, and planted for revegetation and erosion control on salty or disturbed ground. The red fruits draw birds and are gathered as a bush food. It also suits containers and rockeries in hot, dry positions.How to Identify
Appearance
Size & Dimensions
Height1' - 3'
Width/Spread1' - 3'
Bloom Information
The minute flowers can appear through much of the year, with peaks after rain. They are easily missed against the foliage. The colourful succulent fruits follow and may be present in several colours on the bush at once.
Detailed Descriptions
Flower Description
Green to yellow, inconspicuousFoliage Description
Grey-greenGrowing Conditions
Sun Requirements
Requires 6-12 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
Ruby saltbush grows in full sun on free-draining sandy, loamy, or saline soils and tolerates a wide pH range from about 6.0 to 8.5, including alkaline ground. It is highly drought- and salt-tolerant once established and needs little or no irrigation. Frost is poorly tolerated, limiting it to warm-temperate and arid zones. The plants are short-lived but self-seed and can be cut back to keep them compact. They withstand grazing and coastal exposure. Waterlogged or heavily shaded sites are unsuitable.Pruning
A light trim in spring keeps the mound dense and removes any frost-burnt growth. Plants tolerate being cut back hard if they become straggly. No detailed pruning is otherwise required.Container Growing
✓ Suitable for container growing
Minimum container size: 3 gallons