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| Category: Shrub |
| Family: Chenopodiaceae (Goosefoots) |
| Origin: Australia (Australasia) |
| Evergreen: Yes |
| Flower Color: Insignificant |
| Bloomtime: Not Significant |
| Synonyms: [R. deltophylla] |
| Height: 2-4 feet |
| Width: 6-8 feet |
| Exposure: Full Sun |
| Seaside: Yes |
| Drought Tolerant: Yes |
| Irrigation (H2O Info): Low Water Needs |
| Winter Hardiness: 20-25° F |
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Rhagodia spinescens (Australian Saltbush) - A dense low growing shrub to 6 to 18 inches tall with an 8 foot spread and small soft gray leaves that completely cover the stems. It has remained prostrate in our Santa Barbara garden but can clamber higher onto other shrubs, fences or other structures and tends to get taller when over irrigated or when grown in moister northern California gardens. As with most other saltbushes, it tolerates adverse conditions such as drought, frost and salty seaside conditions. Best in full sun but surprisingly tolerant of fairly deep shade. Give this plant little or no supplemental irrigation. A great groundcover for a dry sunny sight or can be grown up a chain link fence to make a vertical wall. Completely hardy to low 20° F - actually survived 18° F in our winter 1990 freeze with the stems literally splitting and then healing with otherwise little damage. We received this plant in 1989 from the University of California, Santa Cruz Arboretum. The folks at UCSC originally envisioned this beautiful gray plant as a solid groundcover under blue hibiscus, Alyogyne huegelii, but in cool moist Santa Cruz it became too tall. The specific epithet is a bit misleading as this selection of Rhagodia spinescens is soft and completely spineless. There is a photo of a nice planting of this plant in the April 2007 issue of Sunset Magazine, though the plant is misidentified as Rhagodia candolleana, which is actually a smaller green leafed plant.
This description of this plant is based on our research and our observations of it growing at the nursery, in our own garden and in other gardens. We always appreciate receiving feedback of any kind from those who have any additional information about this plant, particularly if they disagree with what we have written or have additional cultural tips that would aid others growing Rhagodia spinescens .
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