Atriplex nummularia - Old Man Saltbush Tubestock | Native Tree Seedling

Description:
A hardy Australian native shrub with soft silvery-grey foliage and a dense, rounded habit. Highly valued for its exceptional tolerance to drought, salinity, and poor soils, it is widely used in dryland farming and revegetation projects. Old man saltbush is one of Australia’s premier fodder shrubs, producing protein-rich foliage that can provide valuable green feed during dry seasons when pasture is scarce. It is commonly grazed by sheep, cattle, and goats, helping maintain livestock condition through drought periods. The foliage contains useful minerals and salts, making it particularly valuable as a supplementary feed source when combined with energy-rich pasture or hay. The shrub also provides shelter and habitat for wildlife while helping stabilise degraded soils.

🌳 Height:
1–3 m

🌿 Width:
2–5 m spread

🔧 Uses:
- Livestock fodder and browse
- Shelterbelts and windbreaks
- Saline and degraded land rehabilitation
- Erosion control
- Wildlife habitat
- Drought-tolerant landscaping

🌱 Ideal growing conditions:
- Well-drained sandy, loamy, or saline soils
- Full sun
- Arid to semi-arid climates
- Low rainfall regions

💪 Tolerates:
- Saline soils
- Poor soils
- Heat
- Wind
- Prolonged dry conditions

💧 Drought hardy:
Yes — extremely drought tolerant once established

❄️ Frost tolerant:
Moderate — tolerates light to moderate frost

🧂 Salt tolerant:
Very high — one of the best native species for saline environments