Also known as white orache, this herbaceous perennial is native to the coastline of California and Baja California, where it grows on beach dunes and in other sandy areas. It is a member of the amaranth family, Amaranthaceae, that also includes spinach, beets, and cock’s comb. The plant grows 1-3″ tall and has branching stems that grow up to 5′ long, slightly upright or horizontally along the soil. The elliptical to ovate leaves are .4-1.5″ long, and may have a whitish rough surface. From spring to fall, small, inconspicuous, clusters of white to green male and female flowers appear on the same plant. The clusters of female flowers are surrounded by spongy bracts while the clusters of male flowers are rounded and lack bracts . The fruit contains small seeds that are attractive to birds. The genus name, Atriplex, is the Greek name for orach, a related plant that can be used as spinach. The specific epithet, leucophylla, is from the Greek λευκός (leukós), meaning white, bright, and φύλλον (phúllon,) meaning leaf, and refers to the leaves’ whitish surface.
Type: Herbaceous perennial
Bloom: Clusters of small inconspicuous male and female flowers on the same plant from spring to fall
Size: 1-3″ h x 1-5′ W
Light: Full sun
Soil: Sandy, dry, well-drained; tolerant of drought and salt
Hardiness: Zones 10-11
Care: Low maintenance
Pests and Diseases: None of significance
Propagation: Seed
Companion Plants: Sand verbena, bush lupines, sand bur
Photo Credit: Gordon Leppig & Andrea J. Pickart Wikipedia