# Big Sagebrush (*Artemisia tridentata*) Big Sagebrush is a tall, bushy plant that grows in dry places. It has soft, silvery-green leaves and smells like a fresh herb when you touch it. This plant is important for many animals in the desert! - **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Snaps:** 7 - **Habitat:** Desert ![Big Sagebrush](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Sagebrush.jpg&width=800) Photo: Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Public domain · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Sagebrush.jpg) ## Appearance The Big Sagebrush has distinctive silvery-green or grey-green leaves, often with three small lobes at the tip, making it stand out in arid landscapes. It forms a sturdy, woody shrub with dense branches. Its muted colors are a unique identifier amongst other desert plants. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Plantae - **Phylum:** Tracheophyta - **Class:** Magnoliopsida - **Order:** Asterales - **Family:** Asteraceae - **Genus:** Artemisia ## Interesting facts - It gives off a wonderful, distinct smell, especially after it rains in the desert! - Many tiny birds and insects rely on its seeds for their winter food supply! - The silvery-green leaves often have three little 'teeth', giving it a unique look! - This tough plant can live for more than 100 years, growing strong in harsh lands! ## Special abilities - **Deep Drinker:** Big Sagebrush has long taproots that reach deep into the soil to find water, helping it survive in dry places. - **Winter Green:** Big Sagebrush keeps its leaves all winter, providing food and shelter for animals when other plants are bare. - **Scent Shield:** Big Sagebrush produces strong-smelling chemicals that help protect its leaves from being eaten by some animals. ## Measurements & details - **Height:** 50-300 cm - **Spread:** 150-250 cm - **Flower Size:** 0.2-0.5 cm - **Bloom Season:** Late summer to fall - **Edible:** No - **Toxicity:** Mild - **Lifecycle:** Perennial - **Pollination Method:** Wind ## Ecological connections - **Eaten by:** Greater Sage-Grouse (*Centrocercus urophasianus*) — Its leaves are vital winter food for this ground bird. - **Eaten by:** Pygmy Rabbit (*Brachylagus idahoensis*) — Almost its entire diet consists of Big Sagebrush. - **Eaten by:** [Pronghorn](https://www.snappit.app/explore/pronghorn) (*Antilocapra americana*) — A key food source, especially when other plants are scarce. - **Shelter:** Sagebrush Sparrow (*Artemisiospiza nevadensis*) — This bird builds its nest safely within the branches. ## Traits - [Aromatic](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/aromatic): Aromatic plants produce and emit fragrant volatile organic compounds, often for defense or to attract pollinators. - [Shrub](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/shrub): A shrub is a woody plant smaller than a tree, typically with multiple stems branching from or near the ground. - [Evergreen](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/evergreen): Evergreen plants retain their foliage throughout the year, never shedding all their leaves at once. - [Medicinal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/medicinal): Medicinal plants possess chemical compounds that can be used for therapeutic purposes to treat illnesses or maintain health. - [Drought Tolerant](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/drought-tolerant): Drought-tolerant plants can survive and flourish in conditions with limited water availability. - [Desert](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/desert): Desert habitats are arid regions characterized by extremely low precipitation and often extreme temperatures, supporting specialized flora and fauna. - [Spice](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/spice): This human use trait indicates species from which spices are derived, used for flavoring, preserving food, or as aromatic agents. - [Keystone Species](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/keystone-species): Describes a species whose presence and role have a disproportionately large effect on its environment. - [Pollinator](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/pollinator): Describes organisms that transfer pollen, enabling the fertilization and reproduction of plants. ## Collections - [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/plants) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low Do not eat any plants unless an adult says it's safe! ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Big Sagebrush? Start with the whole plant, then compare leaf arrangement, leaf edges, stems and any flowers or fruit. Opposite leaves grow in pairs; alternate leaves come one at a time along the stem. These details tell you far more together than a single green leaf does. Plant Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How tall is Big Sagebrush? 50-300 cm ### How wide does Big Sagebrush spread? 150-250 cm ### How big are the flowers on Big Sagebrush? 0.2-0.5 cm ### When does Big Sagebrush bloom? Late summer to fall ### Is Big Sagebrush edible? No ### Is Big Sagebrush toxic? Mild ### What is Big Sagebrush's lifecycle? Perennial ## Where to spot - [Colorado National Monument Visitor Center Complex](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/colorado-national-monument-visitor-center-complex) — Colorado, US · National Park - [P Ranch](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/p-ranch) — Oregon, US · Historic Site - [Toadstool Geologic Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/toadstool-geologic-park) — Nebraska, US · Nature Reserve - [Bighorn Canyon National Recreation Area](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/bighorn-canyon-national-recreation-area) — Montana, US · National Park - [Navajo Nation Zoological and Botanical Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/navajo-nation-zoological-and-botanical-park) — Arizona, US · Zoo - [AMK Ranch](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/amk-ranch) — Wyoming, US · Historic Site [View all places to see Big Sagebrush](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/big-sagebrush) ## More Plants - [white snakeroot](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-snakeroot) (*Ageratina altissima*) - [tree-of-heaven](https://www.snappit.app/explore/tree-of-heaven) (*Ailanthus altissima*) - [western sword fern](https://www.snappit.app/explore/western-sword-fern) (*Polystichum munitum*) - [common milkweed](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-milkweed) (*Asclepias syriaca*) --- Source: [Big Sagebrush: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/big-sagebrush)