Fourwing Saltbush. Atriplex canescens, Goosefoot Family ( Chenopodiaceae ), Fourwing Saltbush. Also called: Four Wing Saltbush. We wish to thank Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia for some of the information on this page. We share images and information with Wikipedia. An erect, stout, and many - branched perennial evergreen shrub, growing 1 to 7 feet tall, and 1 to 15 feet in diameter. It flowers from May to September and reproduces from seed. Fourwing saltbush is well adapted to a wide range of temperature and soil conditions. It is highly tolerant of drought, salinity, and alkalinity. Fourwing saltbush occurs on sand dunes, in gravelly washes, on mesas, ridges, alluvial plains, and slopes, at elevations between 3,000 and 8,000 feet. Prefers many different soil types, most common on deep, well - drained, sandy (often alkaline) soils in the desert and foothill ranges of the Great Basin. It also grows well on heavy clay asoil. Fourwing saltbush is a valuable browse that tolerates heavy use. It is used extensively by many wildlife species and domestic livestock. Native Americans ground the seeds to make flour for bread. The pollen of Fourwing Saltbush often causes hay fever. Quick Notes: Height: 1 to 7 feet tall, and 1 to 15 feet in diameter. Trunk: Up To About 10 inches thick. Bark: The bark is a light grey. Flowers: Flowers occur in panicles. Male and female flowers are usually borne on separate plants. The male flowers grow in dense clusters arranged as spike-like branches in a terminal panicle and are green in color. Female flowers grow in short axillary spikelets, appearing as a terminal panicle, yellow in color. Flowering Time: May to September. Fruit & Seeds: A utricle, enclosed in a pair of 2-winged bracts, giving it the "fourwing" appearance. Trunk: Up To About 1 1/2 Foot Thick. A single trunk with arm-like branches and old dry leaves left in place. Leaves: Alternate or occurring in fascicles (like pine needles). Blades are oblong to wide oval to lance-shaped, 3/8 inch wide and 2 inches long. Margins are entire and may be rolled. The surfaces are thick gray and scurfy. Found: Native to the United States; (AZ, CA, CO, ID, KS, MT, ND, NE, NM, NV, OK, OR, SD, TX, UT, WA, WY). Also native to Canada (AB). Also native to northern Mexico in northern Sonora, northern Chihuahua, Baja Norte, Baja California, & Coahuila. Hardiness: Most is found in zones 9b to 4a. USDA Zone 3a: to -39.9 �C (-40 �F) USDA Zone 3b: to -37.2 �C (-35 �F) USDA Zone 4a: to -34.4 �C (-30 �F) USDA Zone 4b: to -31.6 �C (-25 �F) USDA Zone 5a: to -28.8 �C (-20 �F) USDA Zone 5b: to -26.1 �C (-15 �F) USDA Zone 6a: to -23.3 �C (-10 �F) USDA Zone 6b: to -20.5 �C (-5 �F) USDA Zone 7a: to -17.7 �C (0 �F) USDA Zone 7b: to -14.9 �C (5 �F) USDA Zone 8a: to -12.2 �C (10 �F) USDA Zone 8b: to -9.4 �C (15 �F) USDA Zone 9a: to -6.6 �C (20 �F) USDA Zone 9b: to -3.8 �C (25 �F) USDA Zone 10a: to -1.1 �C (30 �F) USDA Zone 10b: to 1.7 �C (35 �F) USDA Zone 11: above 4.5 �C (40 �F) Soil pH requirements: 5.6 to 6.0 (acidic) 6.1 to 6.5 (mildly acidic) 6.6 to 7.5 (neutral) 7.6 to 7.8 (mildly alkaline) 7.9 to 8.5 (alkaline) Sun Exposure: Full Sun Elevation: 0 - 8,000 Feet. Naturally, most is found between 3,000 - 8,000 feet. Habitat: Sand dunes, in gravel washes, mesas, ridges, alluvial plains, and slopes. Xeriscape Landscaping. Miscellaneous: Flowering Photos Taken June 28, 2006. Glendale, Arizona Xeriscape Demonstration Garden.