Atriplex littoralis

Grassleaf orache

iNaturalist· cc-by-nc

Description

Atriplex littoralis is a BIENNIAL growing to 0.7 m (2ft 4in) by 0.3 m (1ft) at a fast rate. See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 5. The flowers are pollinated by Wind. Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils, prefers well-drained soil and can grow in nutritionally poor soil. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils and can grow in very alkaline and saline soils. It cannot grow in the shade. It prefers dry or moist soil and can tolerate drought.

Edible Uses

Leaves and unripe fruits. Leaves - cooked. They are sometimes used as a vegetable.

Distribution

Eurasia - Norway to Spain, east through Russia to the Russian Far East, through Ukraine to the Crimea, Greece to Syria, Lebanon and Egyptian Sinai

Where It Grows

Native to:Algeria, Altay, Austria, Baltic States, Belarus, Belgium, Central European Rus, Corse, Czechoslovakia, Denmark, East European Russia, Egypt, Finland, France, Germany, Great Britain, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Kamchatka, Korea, Kuril Is., Lebanon-Syria, Morocco, Netherlands, North Caucasus, Northwest European R, Norway, Poland, Romania, Sakhalin, Sinai, South European Russi, Spain, Sweden, Transcaucasus, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, West Siberia, Yugoslavia. Introduced into:Cape Provinces, Connecticut, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kwa. Zulu-Natal, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Brunswick, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Nova Scotia, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Prince Edward I., Puerto Rico, Rhode I., Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin

Cultivation

Wild. 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. Sometimes mentioned as a shrub or annual. In northern Europe it has flowers from July until September.

Propagation

Seed - sow mid spring in situ. Germination is usually rapid.

Synonyms

A. hastata littoralis (L.) Farw. A. marina L. A. maritima Pall. A. patula littoralis (L.) A.Gray. A. salicina Pall. A. salina Siev. A. serrata Huds. A. subcordata japonica (Koidz.) Honda. A. sulcata Michx. ex Schult. Chenopodium littorale Thunb. Schizotheca littoralis Fourr.