Atriplex hymenelytra

Atriplex hymenelytra, or desert holly, is silvery-whitish-gray shrub in the goosefoot family (Chenopodiaceae), native to southwestern United States deserts. It is the most drought tolerant saltbush in North America. It can tolerate the hottest and driest sites in Death Valley, and remains active most of the year.

The common name refers to the leaves that are shaped similar to holly, but the plants are not related. The toothed leaves and the small reddish fruits borne on the plant give it a passing resemblance to the unrelated European holly.

Range and habitat

Desert holly grows in alkaline locations such as desert dry wash and creosote bush scrub in the Mojave Desert and Sonoran Desert down to Baja California. In the Sonoran Desert it grow in northwestern Mexico, western Arizona, and southeastern California to southwestern Utah, and can be found at elevations ranging from 250 to 3,900 feet (76 to 1,189 m).

With dry soil, it can survive temperatures as low as −10 °F (−23 °C), dies if the ground freezes.