How to Grow Saltbush
Atriplex nummularia
Saltbush is a tough, spreading Australian native shrub with silver-grey foliage. Plant in full sun and well-drained, even poor or salty soil. Once established it is extremely drought tolerant and needs almost no watering. Leaves are edible year-round with a natural salty flavour — classic for saltbush lamb. Prune to shape after flowering. Makes an excellent windbreak or low-maintenance hedge.
Yearly Lifecycle
Care Essentials
Little feeding needed. Apply a light dressing of balanced fertiliser in spring if growth is poor. Avoid high nitrogen.
Watch For
- Scale insects on stems
- Root rot in waterlogged soils
Companions
Rosemary, Lavender, Native grasses, Eremophila
Care Requirements
Light
Full sun
Requires at least 6 hours of direct sun daily. Will not thrive in shade. Ideal for exposed, sunny, and coastal positions.
Watering
Very low once established
Water regularly for the first season to establish roots. After that, natural rainfall is usually sufficient. Extremely drought tolerant; overwatering causes root rot.
Fertilizing
Minimal — poor soil is preferred
Apply a light balanced fertiliser in spring only if growth is very poor. Rich feeding produces lush, less flavourful leaves and makes the plant less drought hardy.
Pruning
Prune lightly to shape after flowering
Remove straggly or crossing branches after the main flowering period. Hard renovation pruning in late winter will rejuvenate an old or woody plant.
Spacing
2 m apart
Allow at least 2 m between plants — mature shrubs spread to 3 m. Plant 1.5 m apart for a hedge or windbreak screen.
Growing Tips
Minimal water once established
Saltbush is extremely drought tolerant. Water only to establish in the first season; after that, rainfall alone is usually sufficient except in prolonged drought.
Harvest leaves year-round
Young silver-grey leaves can be picked at any time. Use fresh as a salt seasoning, lightly blanched as a spinach substitute, or coat meat before roasting for the classic saltbush flavour.
Excellent windbreak and hedge
Dense silver foliage makes saltbush one of the best plants for coastal windbreaks and dry-climate hedges. Space plants 1.5-2 m apart for a solid screen.
Poor soil is fine
Saltbush thrives in nutrient-poor, sandy, saline, or alkaline soils where most plants fail. Avoid rich, moist soils which encourage lush but less aromatic growth.
