Practical
Plants

Haloxylon persicum

Salt Tree

a perennial woody member of the Haloxylon genus in the family Chenopodiaceae.

No photo available

Taxonomy and growth

Life cycle
perennial
Woodiness
woody
Height
4.5 m
Flower type
hermaphrodite

Uses

Material uses

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

The plant has an extensive root system and is used for reafforestation and stabilizing sandy soils[3][2]. Wood - durable, heavy (it sinks in water), brittle but it does not splinter. Used in general carpentry[3]. The wood has enormous value as a fuel in its native range, it burns well and gives a good heat[4].

Product or use
Fuel
Product or use
Oil
Product or use
Wood

Ecology and functions

Earth stabiliser

Pioneer

Environment

Range
W. Asia - Russia to Iran and east to China.
Habitat
Sandhills, deserts and sand ridges, often forming pure stands[4].
Light
full sun
Shade tolerance
no shade
Water
moderate
Soil textures
sandy, loamy
Soil pH
acid, neutral, alkaline, very alkaline
Drainage
well drained
Tolerances
drought
Tolerates Nutritionally Poor Soil
No
Drought
tolerant
Salinity
tolerant

Propagation

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Seed - sow spring in a greenhouse. When they are large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and grow them on in the greenhouse for at least their first winter. Plant them out into their permanent positions in late spring or early summer, after the last expected frosts. Cuttings of half-ripe wood, July/August in sand in a frame[1].

Cultivation

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

A xerophytic shrub, it tolerates sub-zero temperatures but dislikes wet conditions. It will require a very sunny position in a very well-drained soil that is not too fertile. It probably tolerates saline and alkaline conditions[1].

References

  1. Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press 1992-00-00 ISBN 0-333-47494-5

    ↩1↩2

  2. Flora of China 1994-00-00 http://flora.huh.harvard.edu/china/

    ↩

  3. Usher. G. A Dictionary of Plants Used by Man. Constable 1974-00-00 ISBN 0094579202

    ↩1↩2

  4. Komarov. V. L. Flora of the USSR. Israel Program for Scientific Translation 1968-00-00

    ↩1↩2

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