Gardening information sheet for Winterfat or Winter sage.

1. Winterfat – Krascheninnikovia lanata (krash-en-in-nee-KOV-ee-uh luh-NAY-tuh )
Family: Amaranthaceae (Amaranth family); formerly Chenopodiaceae (Goosefoot family)
Native to: Western Northern America from Canada to CA; most CO counties, growing in
Ponderosa pine, Sagebrush, Desert shrub, Southwestern shrubsteppe, Pinyon-juniper, Plains
grasslands, Desert grasslands from 1000-9000 ft. elevation. Common on mesas, hillsides, plains.
Growth characteristics: perennial sub-shrub mature height: 1-3 ft. mature width: 1-3 ft.
Part-woody sub-shrub with mounded or erect habit. Herbaceous sprouts from woody taproot. Leaves
small, narrow with rolled margins; entire plant with wooly hairs. Foliage gray-green; fades to gold.
Blooms/fruits: Blooms late-spring to summer. Flowers small, wind-pollinated. Separate male &
female flowers, usually on same plant. Fluffy seeds wind-dispersed near parent plant.
Uses in the garden: Often used in natural, water-wise gardens. Foliage color provides a nice
contrast to darker foliage plants year-round. Good habitat plant. Used as a medicinal for many
ailments. Excellent restoration species in native range. Tolerates heat, alkali & saline soils.
Sensible substitute for: Non-native light-foliage plants like Lambs Ears and Cotton Lavender.
Attracts: Excellent bird habitat: provides cover and seeds for food. Winter browse for large and
small animals including rabbits, deer, wild sheep, elk.
Requirements:
Element Requirement
Sun Full sun
Soil Any texture; pH 6.5-9.0 (neutral to alkali)
Water Drought tolerant; infrequent to occasional water (weekly to monthly)
Fertilizer None needed
Other No or light mulch.
Management: Requires little management. Cut back in spring to above woody stem bases.
Propagation: from seed: easy with fresh seed directly sowed in fall by cuttings: softwood
Plant/seed sources (see list for source numbers): 9, 10, 20, 23, 29, 30 12/03/2020
© Project SOUND