[1]: 141  The toothed leaves and the small reddish[citation needed] fruits borne on the plant give it a passing resemblance to the unrelated European holly.

[1][2][3] In the Sonoran Desert it grows in northwestern Mexico, western Arizona, and southeastern California to southwestern Utah, and can be found at elevations ranging from 250 to 3,900 feet (76 to 1,189 m).

[4] Atriplex hymenelytra is generally a compact, rounded bush, 8 to 48 inches (20 to 122 cm) tall, covered in distinctive reflective silver-gray, twisted, oblong, many-pointed leaves.

[4] Oval to round, 1⁄4 to 3⁄8 inch (0.64 to 0.95 cm), silvery-gray leaves have a whitish[citation needed] reflective coating of tiny gray to white[citation needed] scales, and are shaped like twisted or wavy holly leaves, with toothed margins.

[1]: 141 Green or red fruits occur in dense clusters enclosed in disc-shaped leaf-like bracts, with the 2 round bracteoles pressed together,[1]: 141  after flowering.