A great bush tucker plant, with grey foliage that is used as an ingredient for savoury dishes, plus is a useful stock feed on farms as it is highly tolerant of saline conditions and . A medium sized shrub growing from 1-1.8 metres high, and 1.5 to 2.5 metres wide, it naturally grows in very coastal areas from NSW it is able to grow on quite alkaline soils, and is a very useful plant to rehabilitate degraded areas, to stabilise soils and erosion areas. Able to withstand quite windy conditions, so can create shelter while other plants establish. The stems can become woody with age, regular pruning will help to create more dense growth. Atriplex cinerea is monodioecious, meaning it has separate male and female plants.

In cooking, the leaves can be used for their salty, herby flavour for stir fries and casseroles, to add to stuffings, salt rub mixes, and marinades. They can also be cooked like spinach.