Atriplex polycarpa has a bioregional distribution that includes California {San Joaquin Valley and margins, northern Transverse Ranges, eastern Peninsular Ranges, southeast of Sierra Nevada; the range also includes a desert distribution east to Utah and south to northern Mexico. Elevation of occurrence is less than 1500 meters. Typical locations where this plant is found include dry lakebeds and alkali flats.

Known by a common name of Cattle saltbush, this shrub with densely gray-scaly stems is genrerally erect and attains a height from one half to two meters. The spreading to ascending branches terminate in slender twigs slender, becoming more or less spine-like. Leaves are generally subsessile with blades three to 25 millimeters in length, oblong to narrowly oblanceolate.