Quick facts
| Arabic name | الغرقد |
|---|---|
| English name | Gharqad (Nitre Bush) |
| Scientific name | Nitraria retusa |
| Family | Nitraria family (Nitrariaceae) |
| Plant type | Thorny perennial salt shrub |
| Height | 1 to 2 m |
| Water use | Low |
Planting and harvest calendar
Best time to plant
October to December
Harvest
Not harvested
JanuaryFebruaryMarchAprilMayJuneJulyAugustSeptemberOctoberNovemberDecember
Planting timeHarvest or flowering
Times are general for the Saudi climate and may shift a few weeks by region: cooler in the highlands and the north, warmer on the coasts and in the south.
Description
A dense branching shrub with pale thorny-tipped branches, small fleshy leaves, small white flowers and red berries.
Where it grows
Grows in salt flats, salty land and coastal and inland dunes.
Soil
Sandy or salty soil. It handles high salt.
Water and irrigation
Lives on shallow groundwater and rain.
Climate and light
Handles extreme heat and drought.
Propagation
By seed or cuttings.
Benefits and uses
- Holds sand on salty land
- Birds and animals eat its berries
- Grazing for camels
- Good for restoring salt flats
Drawbacks
- Thorny branches
- Grows slowly
- Not suited to home gardens
Important notes
An important plant for fighting desertification on salty land.
Sources and references
The information was collected and checked from these scientific sources:
- Plants of the World Online (POWO) - Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew: Nitraria retusa
- Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF): Nitraria retusa
- Wikipedia: Nitraria retusa
- Chaudhary, S. A. (1999-2001). Flora of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Ministry of Agriculture and Water, Riyadh.
- National Center for Vegetation Cover Development and Combating Desertification (NCVC)
- Photo source: Wikimedia Commons (free license)