Saltbushes are some of the toughest Australian plants when it comes to drought and salt tolerance. They’re often specified for dry inland positions, coastal areas, and to remediate soils with mineral toxicity. Beyond that, they stabilise eroding soils, capture windblown silt and organic debris to build soil, feed wildlife with their berries, and even though they’re wind-pollinated, they still feed a range of “pollinators” with their pollen.
There are a number of genera we lump under the ‘saltbush’ umbrella, but Rhagodia spinescens stands out as an especially good species for landscape for several reasons. It generally has a finer leaf compared with Attriplex, and is far more attractive than many other saltbush genera.
Of the Rhagodia genus, two recently-released Australian cultivars have performed exceptionally well during trials on the Ozbreed farm. They each performed similarly through drough, frost and even flood testing, but they have a different shape.
Rhagodia spinescens ‘SAB01’ PBR Trade Name Aussie Flat Bush™
If you’re looking for something a bit lower, go for Aussie Flat Bush™ Rhagodia. You can clip it once or twice a year to maintain a formal shape, or let it go in its natural shape.
- The Plant Hub: 50 mm tube; $6.50. https://theplanthub.com.au/products/aussie-flat-bush
Rhagodia spinescens ‘SAB02’ PBR Trade Name Aussie Hedge Bush™
If you’re looking for a larger clipped dome/box or a naturalistic mound, go for Aussie Hedge Bush™ Rhagodia. This one is great for adding a bit more scale to a planting and can be used to screen short objects like HVAC units.
- The Plant Hub: 50 mm tube; $6.50. https://theplanthub.com.au/products/aussie-hedge-bush
Salt bushes are at home in contemporary Australian gardens, wildlife gardens, formal gardens, informal plantings, and coastal gardens. All parts of the plant are edible, with leaves serving as a salty raw salad addition or an ingredient in cooked dishes and berries serving as a tasty treat when walking through the garden after summer. Why not add one or two from The Plant Hub via the links above.