Louisiana Wormwood, White Sage, Prairie Sage

Artemisia ludoviciana Nutt.

Asteraceae (Sunflower Family)

▲▼ young shoots emerging from creeping roots in spring

▲▼ young shoots

▲flowering shoots

Prairie Sage, White Sage, Louisiana Wormwood:  (pp. 82-83, Weeds of the Great Plains—not in Weeds of the Northeast)

·         creeping perennial native plant with whitish-hairy leaves of varying shapes—smooth margins, lobed margins, toothed margins

·         leaves have strong, sage-like odor

·         produces creeping roots that can create large colonies over time

·         inflorescences is leafy stalk with tiny, ragweed-like flowers (can cause allergies)

·         found in dry sites, native prairies and glades, no-till crops

·         can be toxic to livestock if grazed heavily—normally not a problem

·         are some cultivars of this species grown as an ornamental perennial flower

Control:   mowing to prevent flowers, post-emergent herbicides