Fat-hen
Atriplex prostrata
Last reviewed: June 2026
Light
full sun
Water
medium
Size
12"–36" H × 12"–24" W
Bloom
Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep
Native to
CT, DE, MA, MD and 9 more states
Browse plants for this ecoregion
Fat-hen is a low-growing annual herb with triangular, succulent-like leaves that form spreading mats. It produces small, inconspicuous greenish flowers from summer through early fall. This salt-tolerant plant is often found growing wild in disturbed soils and along roadsides.
In an HOA neighborhood
Fat-hen takes more care to keep looking intentional in a front yard. Maintenance level: high. Consider it for backyard or mid-zone beds rather than the street edge.
Works well in: backyard only.
- Appears weedy and unkempt
- Self-seeds aggressively
- Often considered a weed rather than ornamental plant
Wildlife value
This plant provides seeds for birds and small mammals in late summer and fall. The foliage may support some native moth caterpillars, though it's not a major pollinator plant.
Common questions
- How much sun does Fat-hen need?
- Fat-hen grows best in full sun conditions.
- When does Fat-hen bloom?
- Fat-hen blooms in June, July, August, and September.
- Where is Fat-hen native?
- Fat-hen (Atriplex prostrata) is native to CT, DE, MA, MD and 9 more states, per the USDA PLANTS Database and regional native plant society lists.
- Is Fat-hen HOA-friendly?
- Fat-hen takes more care to look intentional in a front yard. Consider it for backyard or mid-zone beds rather than the street edge.
Native range data from the USDA PLANTS Database and regional native plant society lists. Pollinator and host plant associations compiled from GBIF, iNaturalist, and published ecological literature.
Ready to grow Fat-hen? Add it to your garden in Pollinator Patch to track it and get season-by-season care guidance.
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