New Mexico State University
College of Agricultural, Consumer, and Environmental Sciences | ACES
NMSU: Selected Plants of Navajo Rangelands

Selected Plants of Navajo Rangelands

Diné bikéyah Chi’l nooséłígíí Bąąhą́ą́nosin
Take care of our Navajo Rangelands

Greasewood

Díwózhiishjiin
Brushland habitat and a clump of greasewood
Gerald Moore

Greasewood grows 3 to 10 feet tall. It is an important winter browse plant for domestic sheep, cattle, and big game animals. It also gets some use during spring and summer months.

Flowers are green. Fruit are green while growing, turning reddish nearing the end of development, and tan when fully mature.

Fruit showing a reddish cast, indicating they are ripening
Matt Lavin
Dense, brushy growth habit
Matt Lavin
Twigs with dense foliage
Matt Lavin
Fruit in a fairly green stage, not yet ripe
Matt Lavin
Scientific Name
Sarcobatus vermiculatus
Plant Type
Brush
Growing Season
Warm Season
Habitats
  • Brushlands
  • Grasslands
Flower Color
Green
Other Traits
⚠
Potentially toxic to livestock

For definitions, see the glossary.

©2018 NMSU Board of Regents.
Individual photographers retain all rights to their images.
Partially funded by the Western Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education Program (westernsare.org; 435.797.2257), project EW15-023.
Programs and projects supported by Western SARE are equally open to all people.