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Maireana spp.
bluebush
Overview
Maireana is a genus of about 57 species of small shrubs and subshrubs in the family Amaranthaceae, almost all native to arid and semi-arid Australia. Commonly called bluebushes, they have a low, rounded, often greyish or silvery habit 8 inches to 5 feet (20 to 150 cm) tall, with small, fleshy, water-storing leaves that resist heat and salt. The tiny flowers are inconspicuous, but the fruits are conspicuous: each develops a papery, often pink, red, or straw-colored horizontal wing that aids wind dispersal and can color the bushes when massed. M. sedifolia, pearl bluebush, forms silvery mounds on limestone plains, while M. brevifolia is a smaller, faster-growing species of disturbed ground. The genus is highly tolerant of drought, salinity, and alkaline soils, and several species are important forage for sheep and native grazers in the arid zone. Plants are long-lived and help stabilize fragile arid soils. Growth is slow in the larger species, and waterlogging is poorly tolerated.
Native Range
Native to Australia, where the genus is widespread across the arid and semi-arid interior, on saltbush plains, limestone rises, and other dry, often alkaline or saline soils. A few species extend into coastal and subhumid areas.Suggested Uses
Grown in dry, native, coastal, and water-wise gardens for silvery foliage and tolerance of salt, heat, and poor soils. The genus is used in revegetation and erosion control on saline and arid land and as drought forage in pastoral country. Plants combine with other saltbush and chenopod species in low, grey plantings.How to Identify
Appearance
Size & Dimensions
Height8" - 5'
Width/Spread1' - 5'
Bloom Information
Flowering is inconspicuous and occurs over much of the year, often after rain, with no fixed season. The winged fruits develop afterward and may persist on the plant for months, sometimes giving the bushes a pink or reddish flush when abundant. Seed set and germination are tied to rainfall.
Detailed Descriptions
Flower Description
greenish, inconspicuousFoliage Description
grey-green to silverGrowing 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