CHENOPODIACEAE

Coastal Saltbush

 

2 - 2.5m 

Terminal flower spikes of small, green flowers surrounded by white hairs. Flowers most of the year. Fruits are attractive and succulent, orange to deep red and about 0.5cm wide. 

Berries or drupes 

Straggling or erect shrub to 2.5m wide, leaves greyish-green, shiny on the upper surface and white underneath, 1-2.5cm long with a short stem, slightly succulent. 

Break O'Day; Burnie; Central Coast; Circular Head; Clarence; Derwent Valley; Devonport; Dorset; Flinders Island; Georgetown; Glamorgan-Spring Bay; Huon Valley; King Island; Kingborough; Latrobe; Sorell; Tasman; West Coast; West Tamar 

 

Saltmarshes and coastal vegetation. 

 

Hardy 

 

Propagation from seeds or cuttings. Seed of most Rhagodia species germinates easily without treatment, and seed less than one year old has best results. Hardy plant in coastal and inland areas, useful as a screen and tolerant of salt spray. Fruits are edible but bitter, leaves are also edible and can be cooked and eaten like spinach. Suitable below powerlines. 

Fruits are small red berries which occur in terminal clusters. Seeds are firm and black when ripe, and released within 3-14 days of seed maturity. Collect from late Dec. to early Apr. Cut fruiting clusters with secateurs, and remove fleshy covering before storing seed. 

 

less than one year is best 

 

Seed should germinate easily without treatment. 

2-5 weeks 

Yes 

 

 

Yes