Australian saltbush, a semi-herbaceous species native to Australia, has become naturalized in southern California, Arizona and New Mexico. It forms spreading mats to a height of 18 to 25 cm (8 to 10 in.) with prostrate stems. The leaves are gray-green with slightly toothed edges. The inconspicuous flowers produce fleshy, reddish, fruiting bracts. Australian saltbush does well on light or medium-textured soils and is drought and alkali-tolerant. It grows at elevations as high as 1,068 m (3,500 ft.) and needs a mean annual precipitation of about 25 cm (10 in.). Plants can be damaged by temperatures of -12° C (10° F) or lower.

Seed should be drilled 1.3 cm (½ in.) deep; shallower in fine-textured, moist soils. Seeding rates should be increased for broadcast seeding or planting on harsher sites. Planting should be done in early spring or fall. Australian saltbush is used as ground cover for erosion control, highway beautification, on mine reclamation and other disturbed sites, and is suited for landscaping.

3.9 kg PLS /hectare
3.5 lbs. PLS/acre

240,000 per lb. (0.46 kg)