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This large, mounding shrub is not the showiest, but it is fast-growing, drought-hardy, and reliable across a wide range of sites. It is very useful as a screen or for stabilizing steep slopes, and also works well as a specimen plant in a waterwise garden. It will keep getting larger, so leave it plenty of room, especially in a more formal setting. It is very tolerant of pruning, however, and can be clipped back if it overgrows its space. Fourwing saltbush has small, narrow, silvery leaves and a densely branching habit. It makes excellent cover for birds and small mammals. When in fruit, the plant is covered with the four-winged dry fruits for which it is named. These persist into winter and are quite ornamental. Fourwing saltbush should not be watered, fertilized, or heavily mulched, as it is susceptible to winter-kill if growth is too lush. It combines well with other large shrubs like rubber rabbitbrush, apache plume, and oakleaf sumac in large scale plantings.
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