Saltlover | Nebraska Invasive Species Council

Credit: K. George Beck and James Sebastian, Colorado State University, Bugwood.org

General Information

Species Name: Halogeton glomeratus

Family: Chenopodiaceae (Goosefoot)

Growth Form: Forb

Life Span: Annual

Flowering Dates: June-September

Origin: Eurasia

Toxic: Contains oxalates that can result in a calcium deficiency in sheep when consumed, with as little as 0.1% of body weight consumed causing death; rare poisoning in cattle

Noxious: No

Why Is It Invasive?

Saltlover easily invades disturbed areas and outcompetes native vegetation and desirable forage. Saltlover can leach salts into topsoil, which can make it inhospitable for native plants. Additionally, consumption of saltlover by sheep can be fatal.

What Does It Look Like?

General Description

Short, erect forb with small, fleshy leaves and vibrant purplish-red stems.

Flowers

Flowers are green to pinkish and lack petals but have 5 lobes. They have winglike hairs at their base and grow in clusters at the top of the stem.

Leaves

Leaves are alternately arranged and numerous. They are small, tubular, flesh, and smooth with a bluish-green color. They have a needle-like spine at their tip.

Stems

Stems are upright, branched from the base, and fleshy. They range in color from purplish, pinkish, to red when they are young and then mature to a yellow or white color. They can reach up to 1.5 feet in height.

Seeds

Seeds are flattened and brown to brownish-black

Photos

Saltlover plant with small, clustered leaves growing among rocks in dry soil.

Credit: Bonnie Million, Bureau of Land Management, Bugwood.org

Busy saltlover with numerous slender stems, small pale flowers, and red accents growing in dry soil.

Credit: Clinton Shock, Oregon State University, Bugwood.org

Pinkish-white flowers clustered along a red stem, surrounded by small pale green leaves.

Credit: Clinton Shock, Oregon State University, Bugwood.org

Credit: Joseph M. DiTomaso, University of California - Davis, Bugwood.org

Six tiny seeds with textured surfaces on a blue background, one seed is lighter and central.

Credit: Steve Hurst, USDA NRCS PLANTS Database, Bugwood.org

Credit: Bonnie Million, Bureau of Land Management, Bugwood.org

Dry desert landscape with multiple saltlover plants.

Credit: Clinton Shock, Oregon State University, Bugwood.org

Where Does It Grow?

Saltlover can be found in disturbed areas and prefers alkaline and saline soils. It can be seen growing along roadsides, in pastures, meadows, rangelands, or lakebeds. It is established across the western United States.

How Does It Spread?

Saltlover reproduces by seed, which can be spread by livestock and wildlife.

How Do I Control It?

Mechanical

Hand pulling or digging can be effective, especially for small or early infestations. Take care not to spread seeds when manually removing plants.

Please contact your county weed control authority to determine appropriate removal methods.

Cultural

Do NOT permit livestock, especially sheep, to graze in areas where saltlover is present due to toxicity.

One way that invasive plant seeds and fragments can spread is in soil. Sometimes plants are planted purposefully. You can prevent the spread of invasive plants.

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