Artemisia californica
California sagebrush
Family AsteraceaeAlso called coastal sagebrush, cowboy cologne
About
California sagebrush is a fragrant, silvery shrub endemic to coastal California and Baja California, a keystone species of coastal sage scrub and a popular drought-tolerant garden plant.
Care at a glance
- Pet safety
- Not recorded. We have no source on whether this plant is safe for cats, dogs or other pets — that is not the same as safe. Keep it out of reach until you have checked.
- People
- Not recorded.
- Light
- Full sun.
- Water
- Little water; best kept dry in summer.
- Soil
- Not particular about soil type.
- Mature size
- 1.5–2.5 m tall.
Field notes
Morphology
Rounded shrub branching from the base, 1.5–2.5 m tall, with slender, flexible stems. Hairy, light green to grey leaves 1–10 cm long are divided into two to four threadlike lobes with inrolled edges. Sparse, narrow inflorescences carry tiny heads under 5 mm across with yellowish, sometimes reddish, florets.
Distribution & habitat
Western California and northwestern Baja California, including several nearby islands such as the Coronado Islands, Cedros and Guadalupe, in coastal sage scrub, coastal strand, chaparral and dry foothills from sea level to about 800 m.
Ecology
Seeds germinate after wildfire and burned plants resprout from the crown. Bitter terpenes deter grazing, while the dense stems shelter small birds and animals; it attracts bees and butterflies.
Cultivation notes
Grown in native and wildlife gardens, natural landscaping and habitat restoration; low cultivars serve as drought-tolerant groundcover. Needs full sun, favours west- or north-facing slopes, little water and none in summer; soil type matters little.
Conservation
Threatened by invasive species, habitat fragmentation and urban development; coastal sage scrub restoration efforts aim to conserve it.
Habitat
- Altitude
- Not recorded
- Altitude class
- —
- Native to
- United States, Mexico
Cultivation
- Difficulty
- Not recorded
Text adapted from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0.
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