Krascheninnikovia ceratoides subsp. lanata

Common Names

Winterfat, White Sage, Lamb's Tail

Summary

Winterfat is a perennial subshrub in Amaranthaceae native to western North America, ranging from Yukon to northern Mexico, growing 15–50 cm tall and often forming pure stands. It features white to brownish tomentose herbage with stellate hairs, linear-lanceolate leaves 1.5–3 cm long with revolute margins, and inconspicuous flowers with fruiting bracts 4–7.5 mm and utricles 2.5–3.5 mm; flowering occurs May–July and fruiting through September. It inhabits foothills and flats on relatively low-alkaline soils at elevations of about 500–2100 m, contributing a distinctive woolly seed head display in dry landscapes.

In cultivation it prefers full sun and dry, well-drained soils, tolerates alkaline and saline conditions, and is drought-tolerant. Hardiness is typically in zones 3–8, with low maintenance requirements; propagation is by seed or softwood cuttings, with stratification enhancing germination. Practical uses include forage for livestock, erosion control and revegetation, and ornamental appeal in xeric or native plantings.

Lifecycle

Perennial

Height

1-3 ft

Spread

3-4 feet

Hardiness Zones

Zones 3-9

Sunlight Requirements

Ideally full sun.

Soil Type

Well-drained, alkaline, and moderately saline soil (pH 6.6–9.0).

Soil Drainage

Well-drained soil

Soil pH

6.6-9.0

Bloom Color

White

Bloom Time

Spring and Summer

Foliage Color

Silvery (silvery-white) foliage

Fall Foliage Color

reddish

Leaf Lifecycle

Deciduous

Growth Rate

Moderate

Seasons of Interest

Spring and Summer

Propagation Methods

Seeds, softwood cuttings

Attracts Wildlife

Attracts birds