# fringed sagebrush (*Artemisia frigida*) Fringed sagebrush is a small, bushy plant that grows in dry places. Its soft, silvery leaves smell wonderful and can be found in many parts of North America. - **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Snaps:** 9 - **Habitat:** Grasslands ![fringed sagebrush](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Artemisia_frigida_1.jpg&width=800) Photo: Franz Xaver, CC BY-SA 3.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Artemisia_frigida_1.jpg) ## Appearance The fringed sagebrush is a low-growing plant with finely divided, fern-like leaves that are covered in soft, silvery hairs. It often forms dense, cushion-like clumps, presenting a distinct gray-green texture different from taller grasses. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Plantae - **Phylum:** Tracheophyta - **Class:** Magnoliopsida - **Order:** Asterales - **Family:** Asteraceae - **Genus:** Artemisia ## Interesting facts - Even in the cold of winter, its evergreen leaves can sometimes peek out from under the snow. - If you gently crush its leaves, it releases a surprisingly fresh, minty scent! - Its fuzzy leaves make it feel super soft, almost like a tiny velvet carpet! - Native Americans traditionally used this plant for tea and even as a smudge stick. ## Special abilities - **Water Saver:** Fringed sagebrush has tiny, fuzzy leaves that trap moisture and reflect sunlight, helping it survive in dry, sunny places. - **Cold Defender:** Fringed sagebrush can withstand freezing temperatures and harsh winds, thriving in cold, exposed places where other plants struggle. - **Scent Shield:** Fringed sagebrush produces strong aromatic compounds in its leaves, helping deter some animals from munching on its foliage. ## Measurements & details - **Height:** 10-50 cm - **Spread:** 15-60 cm - **Flower Size:** 0.2-0.3 cm - **Bloom Season:** Summer to early Fall - **Edible:** Yes - **Toxicity:** Mild - **Lifecycle:** Perennial - **Pollination Method:** Wind ## Ecological connections - **Eats:** [mule deer](https://www.snappit.app/explore/mule-deer) (*Odocoileus hemionus*) — a vital food source, especially in winter - **Eats:** [pronghorn](https://www.snappit.app/explore/pronghorn) (*Antilocapra americana*) — grazes on its aromatic foliage throughout the year - **Shelter:** Greater Sage-Grouse (*Centrocercus urophasianus*) — provides low-lying cover and nesting sites - **Eats:** [white-tailed jackrabbit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-tailed-jackrabbit) (*Lepus townsendii*) — finds its leaves a good snack in arid landscapes ## 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. - [Fragrant Flower](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/fragrant-flower): Fragrant flowers emit a pleasant aroma, often to attract pollinators or for defense. - [Drought Tolerant](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/drought-tolerant): Drought-tolerant plants can survive and flourish in conditions with limited water availability. - [Edible](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/edible): Edible plants are those parts of a plant that are considered safe for human consumption. - [Grassland](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/grassland): Grassland habitats are terrestrial biomes dominated by grasses and herbaceous plants, supporting a variety of grazing animals. - [Pollinator Magnet](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/pollinator-magnet): Describes plants that are particularly attractive and beneficial to a wide range of pollinating organisms. - [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. ## Collections - [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/plants) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low Always look but don't touch plants unless you know they are safe. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify fringed 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 fringed sagebrush? 10-50 cm ### How wide does fringed sagebrush spread? 15-60 cm ### How big are the flowers on fringed sagebrush? 0.2-0.3 cm ### When does fringed sagebrush bloom? Summer to early Fall ### Is fringed sagebrush edible? Yes ### Is fringed sagebrush toxic? Mild ### What is fringed sagebrush's lifecycle? Perennial ## Where to spot - [Chicken Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/chicken-historic-district) — Alaska, US · Historic District - [Dinosaur Ridge](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/dinosaur-ridge) — Colorado, US · Natural Landmark - [Stratton's Independence Mine and Mill](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/strattons-independence-mine-and-mill) — Colorado, US · Historic Site - [Gakona Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/gakona-historic-district) — Alaska, US · Historic District - [Bandelier CCC Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/bandelier-ccc-historic-district) — New Mexico, US · Historic District - [Cripple Creek Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/cripple-creek-historic-district) — Colorado, US · Historic District [View all places to see fringed sagebrush](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/fringed-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: [Fringed Sagebrush: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/fringed-sagebrush)