Mediterranean saltbush
Atriplex halimus
A silvery, salt-proof hedge; the young leaves are a salty cooked green.
Hardiness: zones 8 to 11
Light: full sun
Size: about 6 ft tall, 8 ft wide
Harvest: year-round
From: Mediterranean and N. Africa
Drought-hardy once established
Here: Too tender to overwinter outdoors on the Lake Erie shore (zone 6b to 7a): grow it in a pot and bring it in, or treat it as an annual.
Good for: food, mulch and biomass.
Native to: Mediterranean, Sahara & Arabian deserts. Hardy in zones 8 to 11.
The story
Mediterranean saltbush grows on salt flats and sea cliffs from Portugal to Israel, where its leaves were eaten in hard times and still season Levantine dishes; it is also a drought and salt barrier hedge, which is most of why it is planted.
Planting
Full sun and poor, dry, even salty soil; it takes drought, wind and spray. Plant in spring; evergreen, 4 to 6 feet.
Growing
Water the first summer only; never feed. Clip as a hedge. It tolerates coastal and roadside salt.
Harvest and use
Pick young silver leaves any time; they are salty, so cook as a green with no added salt or fry crisp as a garnish.
What to watch for
Wet soil; otherwise none.
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General guidance, not professional advice. Conditions vary by yard and year; for local specifics ask your county extension office. Never eat a wild plant you cannot identify with certainty. Traditional uses are shared as history, not medical advice. © 2026 Sean Priest · Irie Orchard. Terms & credits · Privacy · Home