Seasonal fluctuations in environmental conditions provide germination cues for the establishment of seedlings at the right time and place to ensure plant survival and population regeneration. Diaspore heteromorphism is a phenomenon in which diaspores with stark qualitative differences in morphology and ecology are produced by the same maternal plant. Germination responses and dispersal times of the annual halophyte Atriplex centralasiatica were examined to determine the role of diaspore heteromorphism in its adaptation to salt desert conditions. A. centralasiatica is a tumbleweed that produces three types of diaspores that differ in morphology and ecophysiology. The relative potential dispersal ability and intensity of dormancy of the three diaspore types was type A (fan-shaped diaspores with yellow fruits)90.0% remained in the soil seedbank 2 years after dispersal respectively. The dormancy dispersal and salt tolerance of type B diaspores were intermediate between those of A and C. Type A exhibited low dispersal–nondormancy type B exhibited intermediate dispersal–intermediate dormancy and type C exhibited high dispersal ability–high dormancy. In the unpredictable salt desert habitat the functional differences in germination and dispersal of the three diaspores act as a bet-hedging mechanism and ensure population establishment in different years by spreading germination over time and space.