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Grayia spinosa
Grayia spinosa (Hook.) Moq.
Spiny Hopsage, Spiny Hop-sage
Chenopodiaceae (Goosefoot Family)
Synonym(s): Atriplex grayi, Atriplex spinosa
USDA Symbol: GRSP
USDA Native Status: L48 (N)
A semi-evergreen shrub, 2-5 ft. tall, with many stiff, erect, spiny branches. Older branches have shredding, dark gray bark. The fleshy, oval leaves are scurf-pubescent when young, becoming shinier with age. The flower cluster, a dense spike, is not showy. It is followed by a cluster of reddish or whitish fruiting bracts.
Extremely drought tolerant thanks to a deep root system, this shrub serves as a good food source for browsers, especially in the dry months when other plants have dropped their leaves.
Plant Characteristics
Duration: PerennialHabit: Shrub
Leaf Retention: Evergreen
Leaf Complexity: Simple
Size Notes: Up to about 5 feet tall.
Leaf: White-Gray
Fruit: Utricle.
Bloom Information
Bloom Color: RedBloom Time: Mar , Apr , May , Jun , Jul , Aug
Distribution
USA: AZ , CA , CO , ID , MT , NV , OR , UT , WA , WYNative Distribution: S.w. MT to e. WA, s. to AZ & e. CA
Native Habitat: Dry, brushy plains, foothills & desert valleys
Growing Conditions
Water Use: LowLight Requirement: Part Shade
Soil Moisture: Dry
CaCO3 Tolerance: High
Soil Description: Dry, deep to shallow, often alkaline soils.
Conditions Comments: Extremely drought tolerant due to a deep root system.
Propagation
Seed Collection: Seeds from the winged fruit are flat, round, and brown.Commercially Avail: yes
Find Seed or Plants
Find seed sources for this species at the Native Seed Network.
View propagation protocol from Native Plants Network.
From the National Organizations Directory
According to the species list provided by Affiliate Organizations, this plant is on display at the following locations:Santa Barbara Botanic Garden - Santa Barbara, CA
Native Seed Network - Corvallis, OR
Web Reference
Webref 38 - Flora of North America (2019) Missouri Botanical Garden, St. Louis, MO & Harvard University Herbaria, Cambridge, MA.Webref 23 - Southwest Environmental Information Network (2009) SEINet - Arizona Chapter
Additional resources
USDA: Find Grayia spinosa in USDA PlantsFNA: Find Grayia spinosa in the Flora of North America (if available)
Google: Search Google for Grayia spinosa
Metadata
Record Modified: 2023-02-13Research By: TWC Staff