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Atriplex hymenelytra
Atriplex hymenelytra (Torr.) S. Watson
Desert Holly, Silver Holly
Chenopodiaceae (Goosefoot Family)
Synonym(s):
USDA Symbol: athy
USDA Native Status: L48 (N)
A 2-5 ft., compactly branching plant from thickened, gnarly, woody bases. The roundish leaves are covered with a silvery-white scurf. Compactly branched, silvery white, covered with numerous hollylike leaves. Greenish flowers are in panicled spikes and are followed by flattened fruit.
The hollylike leaves of this extremely attractive shrub are often used in household decorations.
Plant Characteristics
Duration: PerennialHabit: Shrub
Leaf Retention: Evergreen
Leaf Complexity: Simple
Leaf Margin: Dentate
Fruit Type: Achene
Size Notes: Up to about 5 feet tall.
Leaf: Gray
Bloom Information
Bloom Color: Yellow , Green , Purple , BrownBloom Time: Jan , Feb , Mar , Apr , May
Distribution
USA: AZ , CA , NV , UTNative Distribution: S.w. UT to s.e. CA, s. to AZ & Mex.
Native Habitat: Dry, sandy or stony sites
Growing Conditions
Water Use: LowLight Requirement: Sun
Soil Moisture: Dry
Soil Description: Dry, sandy or stony soils
Conditions Comments: Must have well-drained site and as little water as possible to survive. Tolerates high alkalinity.
Propagation
Description: Increase by seed or softwood cuttings.Seed Collection: Gather by hand when ripe in late summer or fall. Cleaning or dewinging before storage is not necessary although the bracts contain high accumulations of soluble salts which may inhibit germination. Store seed in cloth or paper bags in a dry, cool place. Seeds must undergo a period of after-ripening.
Seed Treatment: Germination of many Atriplex species can be increased by presoaking the fruits and then wringing the water and dissolved salts from the material.
Commercially Avail: yes
Find Seed or Plants
Find seed sources for this species at the Native Seed Network.
From the National Organizations Directory
According to the species list provided by Affiliate Organizations, this plant is on display at the following locations:Native Seed Network - Corvallis, OR
Bibliography
Bibref 995 - Native Landscaping from El Paso to L.A. (2000) Wasowski, S. and A. WasowskiSearch More Titles in Bibliography
Web Reference
Webref 30 - Calflora (2018) CalfloraWebref 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 Atriplex hymenelytra in USDA PlantsFNA: Find Atriplex hymenelytra in the Flora of North America (if available)
Google: Search Google for Atriplex hymenelytra
Metadata
Record Modified: 2022-11-23Research By: TWC Staff