# Sagebrush (*Artemisia L.*)

Sagebrush is a fragrant plant found in dry, open areas like deserts and plains. Its silvery-green leaves release a pleasant scent when touched, attracting butterflies and other insects.

- **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant)
- **Rarity:** Common
- **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low
- **Habitat:** Desert
- **Also known as:** Artemisia tridentata, Common Sagebrush

![Sagebrush](https://inaturalist-open-data.s3.amazonaws.com/photos/110262286/medium.jpg)

Photo: Matt Lavin, CC BY 4.0 · [iNaturalist](https://www.inaturalist.org/photos/110262286)

## Appearance

The Sagebrush is a medium-sized shrub with silvery-gray, narrow leaves that are often lobed at the tips, giving them a distinctive three-pronged look. Its woody stems are reddish-brown, and it produces small, yellowish-green flowers in clusters during late summer.

## Taxonomy

- **Kingdom:** Plantae
- **Phylum:** Tracheophyta
- **Class:** Magnoliopsida
- **Order:** Asterales
- **Family:** Asteraceae
- **Genus:** Artemisia

## Interesting facts

- It provides homes and shelter for many small desert creatures.
- Its unique scent comes from oils that keep some bugs away!
- Some sagebrush plants can live for over 100 years!
- You'll mostly find sagebrush in western North America's dry lands.

## Special abilities

- **Scent Shield:** Sagebrush releases a strong, distinctive scent from oils in its leaves that helps to deter some hungry animals from eating it.
- **Soil Saver:** Sagebrush has an extensive root system that holds soil in place, preventing erosion in windy and arid environments.

## Measurements & details

- **Height:** 50-300 cm
- **Spread:** 50-250 cm
- **Flower Size:** 0.1-0.3 cm
- **Bloom Season:** Late summer to fall
- **Edible:** No
- **Toxicity:** Mild
- **Lifecycle:** Perennial
- **Pollination Method:** Wind

## Ecological connections

- **Eaten by:** [Mule Deer](https://www.snappit.app/explore/mule-deer) (*Odocoileus hemionus*) — Its leaves are a vital winter food source.
- **Eaten by:** Greater Sage-Grouse (*Centrocercus urophasianus*) — Relies on sagebrush for food and shelter.
- **Shelter:** [Bushy-tailed Woodrat](https://www.snappit.app/explore/bushy-tailed-woodrat) (*Neotoma cinerea*) — Builds nests and finds protection within the dense shrubs.

## 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.
- [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.
- [Salt Tolerant](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/salt-tolerant): Salt tolerant plants can withstand and grow in conditions with elevated salinity levels in the soil or water.
- [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.
- [Longevous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/longevous): This trait characterizes organisms with an exceptionally long lifespan compared to others of their kind.

## Collections

- [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/plants)

## Safety

**Danger:** 1/5 · Very low

Enjoy looking at sagebrush from a distance and avoid touching wild plants without adult supervision.

## Frequently Asked Questions

### How to identify 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 Sagebrush?

50-300 cm

### How wide does Sagebrush spread?

50-250 cm

### How big are the flowers on Sagebrush?

0.1-0.3 cm

### When does Sagebrush bloom?

Late summer to fall

### Is Sagebrush edible?

No

### Is Sagebrush toxic?

Mild

### What is Sagebrush's lifecycle?

Perennial

## 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*)

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Source: [Sagebrush: Characteristics, Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/sagebrush)