Saltbush is a vernacular term primarily used to describe plants within the genus Atriplex, which comprises approximately 250 species distributed globally. These plants are native to diverse regions, including Australia, North and South America, and Eurasia, spanning climates from subtropical to subarctic. Many species of Atriplex are classified as halophytes, meaning they are highly adapted to arid environments and soils with high salt concentrations.
In addition to the genus Atriplex, the term saltbush is occasionally applied to taxonomically related plants. This includes certain species within the cousin genus Chenopodium, such as Chenopodium robertianum and Chenopodium nutans. Furthermore, the North American halophyte Sarcobatus vermiculatus is also informally referred to by this name, reflecting the term's broad application to salt-tolerant shrubbery.
