Description

This species inhabits a range of plant communities in California, notable for their variety. Among these are the Channel Islands, all of which support a population. The compact island form was selected from little Anacapa Island off the eastern shore of Santa Cruz Island. Like the species, it grows as a dense rounded shrub of silver leaves. It is notable for its smaller size, topping out at about four feet. This renders this form a better choice for a typical home garden, where it contrasts beautifully against darker evergreen shrubs such as ceanothus. Big salt bush is an excellent habitat plant. All parts are edible, and the dense growth forms a refuge for animals of all sorts. I have grown this form in a parking strip in San Jose at the base of a desert willow, Chilopsis linearis. It has grown vibrantly with no water and a little shade. I would say now that it is a little too large for most parking strips.