textAdminOnlyNameForClipboard
Cape Saltbush
Atriplex vestita
SA tree number
English: Cape Saltbush, Saltbush
Afrikaans: Brakbos, Brakbossie, Brak Vaalbos, Soutbos, Vaalbos, Vaalbosse, Klappiesbrak, Karoobrak, Kolonialebrak, Kolonialebrakbossie
Historical scientific names: Atriplex capensis, Chenopodium vestitum, Atriplex glauca, Atriplex portulacoides
Misapplied scientific names: Atriplex halimus
Subspecies: Atriplex vestita var. appendiculata, Atriplex vestita var. inappendiculata
Atriplex vestita, commonly known as Cape Saltbush or Brakbos, is a medium-sized, indigenous evergreen shrub that is highly tolerant of harsh conditions, especially saline (salty) soils. It's characterised by its often greyish or silvery-green leaves, which have a distinctive mealy or scurfy texture, and its inconspicuous flowers.
Have you got a better picture?
If you don't mind us using it, please upload it by clicking the Upload button below (you must be logged in to do this)
Distinguishing features:
Often has a greyish or silvery appearance due to a covering of tiny, bladder-like hairs on its leaves and stems.
Leaves are generally small, oval to oblong, and often have a mealy texture.
Extremely tolerant of salt and drought conditions.
Inconspicuous, greenish-yellow flowers clustered in spikes.
Can grow in very harsh, arid, or coastal environments.
Overall appearance:
The Cape Saltbush (Atriplex vestita) is typically a rounded, bushy shrub with a distinctive greyish or silvery-green hue, giving it a somewhat "dusty" or "mealy" appearance. This is due to a covering of tiny, scale-like hairs on its leaves and stems. Its small, often abundant leaves and inconspicuous flowers contribute to its overall dense, somewhat understated look.
Height:
Typically grows 1 to 2 metres tall.
Width:
Can spread to a width of 1.5 to 3 metres.
Leaves:
The leaves are alternate, small (typically 1-4 cm long), and vary in shape from oval to oblong or elliptic, sometimes with slightly wavy margins. They are covered in minute, bladder-like hairs that give them a characteristic silvery-grey or whitish-green, mealy, or scurfy appearance, especially when young. These hairs help the plant reflect sunlight and excrete excess salt.
Flowers:
The flowers are tiny, inconspicuous, and generally yellowish or brownish-green. They are unisexual, meaning male and female flowers are usually found on different parts of the same plant (monoecious) or sometimes on separate plants (dioecious, though Atriplex halimus, a close relative, is more consistently dioecious). They are often borne in small, dense clusters (glomerules) in the leaf axils or in terminal spikes. They are wind-pollinated, so they don't produce showy petals or strong fragrances.
Flowering season:
Flowering can occur almost year-round depending on conditions, but it is typically most noticeable from late spring through summer (around October to March) in South Africa.
Fruits:
The fruit is a small, flattened, one-seeded "false-fruit" (a utricle), enclosed within two enlarged, often triangular or oval, papery bracteoles. These bracteoles can be green, reddish, or brownish and are often covered with the same mealy hairs as the leaves.
Seeds:
The seeds are small, flattened, and dark, enclosed within the papery bracteoles. They are dispersed by wind or by animals that consume the fruits.
Bark:
The stems are green when young, becoming woody and greyish-brown with age, sometimes with a slightly fissured texture. It does not develop thick bark like a tree.
Thorns:
None.
Stems:
The stems are woody, contributing to its shrubby form.
Roots:
It has a deep, branching root system that enables it to access water from deeper soil layers and provides excellent stability in unstable or saline environments.
Soil type:
Highly tolerant of a wide range of soil types, including sandy, loamy, and even clay soils, provided they are well-drained. It is exceptionally tolerant of saline and alkaline soils, which is where it thrives best.
Aspect:
Requires full sun and is highly drought-tolerant. It thrives in arid to semi-arid conditions and is very tolerant of coastal winds and salt spray. It is moderately frost-tolerant, typically recovering from light to moderate frosts.
Ediblity:
The leaves of many Atriplex species, including Atriplex vestita (which is sometimes considered synonymous with Atriplex halimus or closely related), are known to be edible. They have a pleasant, salty flavour and can be eaten raw in salads or cooked like spinach. However, they should be consumed in moderation, especially if grown in highly saline soils, as they can accumulate high levels of salt. It's also advised to harvest lightly, particularly during slow growth periods.
Toxicity:
Generally considered non-toxic. However, like other saltbush species, Atriplex vestita can accumulate high levels of salts in its leaves, which can be an issue for livestock if consumed as a sole feed source for extended periods. In rare cases, if growing in selenium-rich soils, it can accumulate selenium, which can be toxic to animals in high concentrations. For human consumption, moderation is key due to the salt content.
Uses:
Valued for its excellent drought and salt tolerance, making it ideal for landscaping in arid regions, coastal areas, and for soil stabilisation, particularly on slopes or in areas prone to erosion. It is also an important browse and fodder plant for livestock (especially sheep) in semi-arid and arid rangelands due to its nutritious foliage. Historically, the ash from certain saltbush species was used as a salt substitute or for preserving meat.
Ecology:
As a salt-tolerant shrub, it plays a vital role in stabilising soils in arid and semi-arid environments, especially in saline areas. Its foliage provides an important food source for various herbivores, including livestock and wild animals. It also provides shelter and nesting sites for small birds and other wildlife in often exposed landscapes. The plant helps to extract excess salt from the soil, effectively desalinating it, which can benefit other plants in the long run if its leaves are removed.
Distribution and habitat:
Atriplex vestita is indigenous to South Africa and is found primarily in the drier, more arid and semi-arid regions, particularly in the Western Cape, Eastern Cape, Northern Cape, and Free State provinces. It is a common component of Karoo and Succulent Karoo vegetation, found on flats, slopes, and often in areas with brackish (salty) soils.
Derivation of name:
The genus name Atriplex is an ancient Latin name for orache, a plant known since Roman times, derived from the Greek "atraphaxis."
The species name vestita is Latin for "clothed" or "covered," referring to the mealy or scurfy covering of tiny hairs on its leaves and stems.
Common names like "Saltbush" and "Brakbos" (Afrikaans for "brackish bush") directly refer to its high salt content and tolerance for saline conditions.
Historical aspects:
Saltbush species, including Atriplex vestita, have been known and valued in South Africa for centuries, particularly by indigenous communities and later by farmers in arid regions. Its ability to thrive in salty, dry conditions made it a crucial fodder plant for livestock in the Karoo, where traditional knowledge recognised its benefits. There has been historical interest from botanical gardens like Kew in introducing various Atriplex species for their drought and salt tolerance, and their potential as fodder plants. These plants are a testament to ancient agricultural practices, used by early inhabitants for their salt content to preserve meat and as a condiment.
Interesting facts:
This plant is like a natural salt shaker! It has tiny hairs on its leaves that collect and excrete salt, giving them a salty taste and helping the plant survive in harsh conditions.
It's a real superhero for the soil – it actually helps to "desalinate" salty ground, making it healthier for other plants (if you remove the leaves, that is!).
Farmers in the Karoo have known its secret for ages, using it as a vital food source for sheep and cattle in dry, salty areas.
While it might not have big, flashy flowers, its ability to thrive where other plants struggle makes it a quiet champion of the South African landscape!
Growing tips:
Propagation: Best grown from seed. Seeds may benefit from a quick wash under running water to remove any salt residue that might inhibit germination.
Planting: Requires full sun and excellent drainage. Plant in well-drained soil; it thrives in sandy or rocky soils and tolerates salty conditions.
Watering: Very water-wise. Once established, it is highly drought-tolerant and needs minimal watering.
Frost Protection: Moderately frost-tolerant. Can withstand light to moderate frosts.
Maintenance: Low maintenance. Avoid over-fertilising. Pruning can be done to maintain shape or encourage denser growth, especially if used for browse.
This plant is a fantastic alternative for:
Common name
Scientific Name
Plant type:
Plant type
Plant family:
Plant family (derivation)