Greasewood
Sarcobatus vermiculatus
- Plant type
- shrub
- Settings
- Rangeland
- Risk
- Moderate risk Our rating from the cited sources.
- Review
- Not yet reviewed by a veterinarian.
Photos
Planned.
How to tell it
Spiny upright shrub with fleshy narrow leaves and smooth whitish bark on salty, alkaline flats (ARS).
Look-alikes: Planned.
What to do on a site walk
- Limit time.
- Bring goats in full and watered.
- Introduce slowly over several days.
Why it matters
- Toxic principle
- Soluble oxalates (sodium and potassium oxalate)
- Toxic parts
- Leaves
- Basis for our rating
- Chewgrass rating. ARS: safe in moderate amounts with other forage; losses come when large amounts are eaten fast.
Signs in goats
Weakness, depression, labored breathing, lying down, death (ARS, sheep data). Langston lists greasewood among plants causing nervous signs.
If you think an animal has been poisoned, call your vet right away.
Season
Leaves more toxic as the season goes on; risk with fallen leaves in fall and early spring regrowth (ARS).
Sources
Links last checked: 2026-10-31