Common Name:

General Information

Atriplex cana is a much-branched, perennial plant that sometimes grows in a cushion shape; the stems can become more or less woody, especially towards the base. It grows 20 - 50cm tall[, ].
The stems are harvested in great quantity for use as a winter fuel[].

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

,

Range

Europe - eastern Russia; Asia - Caucasus, Western Siberia, Kazakhstan, western China.

Habitat

Soils transitional between solonchak and solonetz, also crustose solonetz. Often found growing in masses, and representing one of the characteristic plants of semideserts[].

Properties

Other Uses Rating
Habit	Shrub
Height	0.35 m
Pollinators	Wind
Cultivation Status	Wild

Cultivation Details

Atriplex cana is a plant of arid and semi-arid regions of northern Asia. It can tolerate very cold weather so long as it also has hot summers, but can be killed by excessive moisture.
Species in this genus generally succeed in full sun in any well-drained but not too fertile soil[]. Most species in this genus tolerate saline and very alkaline soils[].

Edible Uses

None known

Medicinal

None known

Other Uses

An excellent fuel in desert localities, said to be inferior as fuel only to Haloxylon. It burns well even in fresh condition. It is often stored in large quantities for winter use[].

Propagation

Seed - sow mid spring in a cold frame in a compost of peat and sand. Germinates in 1 - 3 weeks at 13°c[]. Pot up the seedlings when still small into individual pots, grow on in a greenhouse for the first winter and plant out in late spring or early summer after the last expected frosts.
Cuttings of half-ripe wood, mid summer in a frame. Very easy. Pot up as soon as they start to root (about 3 weeks) and plant out in their permanent positions late in the following spring[].
Cuttings of mature wood of the current season's growth, late autumn in a frame. Very easy. Pot up in early spring and plant out in their permanent position in early summer[].