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Sarcobatus vermiculatus

greasewood

Sarcobataceae Western North America

Deer Resistant Drought Tolerant

Native to North America

SunFull Sun

WaterLow · drought-tolerant

HardinessZones 4–8

Overview

Sarcobatus vermiculatus is a spiny, deciduous shrub 2-7 feet (0.6-2.1 m) tall and 3-8 feet (0.9-2.4 m) wide, with rigid, light gray to white branches that end in sharp spines. The leaves are narrow, fleshy, and nearly cylindrical, 0.4-1.6 inches (1-4 cm) long, bright green, and arranged alternately or in small clusters. The plant is monoecious, carrying separate male and female flowers; male flowers form small cone-like spikes at branch tips, and female flowers develop into a single seed surrounded by a circular papery wing. Flowering occurs from May to July. The leaves and young stems contain soluble oxalates that are poisonous to grazing sheep and cattle when eaten in quantity. The shrub grows on alkaline and salty soils where few other woody plants survive, drawing water from deep roots that reach the water table. Leaves drop in fall and in extreme drought.

Native Range

Native to western North America from the Great Plains across the Great Basin to eastern California and Washington, and south into northern Mexico. Grows on alkaline and saline flats, playas, valley bottoms, and dry washes with high water tables, usually below 7,000 feet (2,100 m).

Suggested Uses

Grown in saline and alkaline soil restoration, rangeland, and habitat plantings on salt flats and valley bottoms, spaced 4-6 feet (1.2-1.8 m) apart. It stabilizes salty, sodic ground where most shrubs fail. The spines and toxic foliage make it unsuited to pastures grazed by sheep and cattle and to high-traffic areas.

How to Identify

Recognized by rigid, light gray to white spine-tipped branches and narrow, fleshy, nearly cylindrical bright green leaves 0.4-1.6 inches (1-4 cm) long. Female flowers develop a single seed ringed by a circular papery wing, which separates it from saltbushes (Atriplex spp. species) that bear flattened, paired bracts around the seed. The spiny, succulent-leaved habit on salty ground is characteristic.

Appearance

Size & Dimensions

Height2' - 7'

Width/Spread3' - 8'

Reaches mature size in approximately 8 years

Colors

Flower Colors

Foliage Colors

Fall Foliage Colors

Bloom Information

Bloom Period

~8 weeks

Spring Summer

Flowers from May to July, with small male spikes at branch tips and inconspicuous female flowers lower on the stems. The winged fruits develop through summer and turn tan as they ripen. Flowering and fruiting depend on spring moisture and the depth of the water table.

Detailed Descriptions

Foliage Description

bright green

Growing Conditions

Sun Requirements

SunFull Sun

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

Soil Requirements

pH Range7.5 - 9.0(Alkaline)

357912

Soil Types

clay loam silt

Drainageaverage

Water & Climate

Water Needs

Low

Frost Tolerance

hardy

Time to Maturity

5-10 years

Drought Tolerance

Drought tolerant when established

Care & Maintenance

Care Guide

Grows in full sun on alkaline, saline, and sodic soils, including heavy clay flats, where it draws water from deep roots reaching the water table. It tolerates salt, drought, and seasonal flooding, and grows poorly in rich, well-drained garden soil. The leaves and young stems contain soluble oxalates that are poisonous to sheep and cattle in quantity. It is rarely cultivated and is most often managed in rangeland and restoration settings. Deep, heavy soils with a reachable water table support it, while sandy, fast-draining sites do not.

Pruning

Little pruning is done, as the shrub grows in wild and rangeland settings rather than gardens. Dead or broken spiny branches can be removed where access is needed. Hard cutting prompts regrowth from the base.