Greasewood is an erect, spiny, medium shrub found on saline bottomlands or on clay soils in the open valleys and plains of Montana. The leaves are narrow, thick, very succulent when green and have a salty taste. This shrub is browsed by sheep, cattle and horses in winter and during the succulent stage in the spring. It is used by deer and antelope during much of the year and by elk on winter range.

Greasewood is poisonous to sheep if eaten in large quantities. Young stems and fresh leaves are the most poisonous, but the entire plant contains the oxalates of sodium and potassium which are toxic. The most dangerous grazing season is in early spring. Because the oxalates are readily excreted, the poison is not cumulative.

Poisoning by greasewood usually will not occur as long as animals have an abundance of other forage.

Greasewood increases when the range is grazed too heavily. Careful management of grazing can avoid undesirable increase and maintain a desirable balance between greasewood and range grasses.

If eaten liberally when in vigorous growth, greasewood will sometimes cause bloat.

Large amounts of sodium salts are absorbed by this plant, giving it a salty taste. As the leaves fall there is an accumulation of sodium in the surface soil.