Frankenia salina (alkali heath) is a spreading subshrub native to southwestern North America. It has gray-green leaves and produces pink flowers in summer. As a low-care ground cover, it is drought tolerant and salt tolerant, making it a good choice for water-wise and coastal gardens where it also provides habitat for pollinators and lizards. Alkali heath requires full sun, alkaline soil, and occasional summer watering.

1. Alkali heath – Frankenia salina (fran-KEN-ee-uh sa-LIE-nuh)
Family: Frankeniaceae (Alkali heath family)
Native to: Southwestern U.S. (CA, NV) to Mexico, S. America. Once common in western L.A.
County along ocean bluffs/mesas. beaches and around salt and brackish marshlands.
Growth characteristics: spreading sub-shrub mature height: 1-3 ft. mature width: 1-3+ ft.
In western Los Angeles county, usually a 1-2 ft spreading/sprawling half-woody groundcover.
Leaves simple, green/gray-green, in pairs along stem. Leaf margins roll under in drought making
them appear very narrow, heath-like. Plant spread via rhizomes. Evergreen with occasional summer
water; drought deciduous under dry conditions. In salty soils, plants secrete salt from leaves.
Blooms/fruits: Blooms primarily in summer – June to Sep. Purple-pink flowers are small (1/4 - 1
in), solitary among the foliage. Pretty up close, the flowers are tubular, with 5 ‘petals’ and
prominent stamens that exceed the floral cup. Fruit is a dry capsule with 1-20 brown seeds.
Uses in the garden: Most effective when used as a low-care ground cover. Also used in water-wise
and rock gardens, primarily as a pollinator plant. Good choice around rain gardens and dry swales.
Tea from leaves traditionally used for colds, congestion.
Sensible substitute for: Non-native groundcovers like ivy, ice plant.
Attracts: Excellent pollinator habitat: provides nectar and pollen for many insects. Lizards use
plants for cover.
Requirements:
Element Requirement
Sun Prefers full sun – Ok with light shade.
Soil Not particular about soil texture – clay to sandy; takes pH to 9.0 (very alkali)
Water Looks best with occasional summer water – Water Zone 2 to 2-3
Fertilizer Not needed – fine with very occasional ½ strength fertilizer.
Other Fine with leaf mulch; very salt tolerant
Management: Prune or edge to contain. Other than that, this is a low maintenance plant.
Propagation: from seed: pre-chill 21 days by divisions & herbaceous stem cuttings: easy
Plant/seed sources (see list for source numbers): 8, 10, 20, 21, 24 12/29/14
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