Winterfat

Krascheninnikovia lanata

Formerly Ceratoides lanata. Long-lived spreading evergreen subshrub up to 2 ft. tall with silvery white foliage and inconspicuous petal-less flowers, blooming April to August. Adapted to a wide range of soil textures, tolerating moderate to highly saline conditions; intolerant of acidic soils, flooding and prolonged wet conditions. Often forms pure stands within arid salt desert shrub, pinyon-juniper, sagebrush and at the edges of some woodland communities; 1,000 to 9,000 ft. elevation. Some tolerance to wildfire, able to sprout after low-severity burns. Germinates easily. Excellent pioneer in mine reclamation and revegetation after disturbance. Extremely palatable to all classes of livestock and wildlife. Important forage for Rocky Mountain bighorn sheep. Also browsed by deer, elk, pronghorn and numerous small mammals; a core food for black-tailed jackrabbits.