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Sand Sagebrush

Artemisia filifolia Torr.

Asteraceae (Sunflower Family)

▲ new growth from burned plant

▲▼ early summer growth

▲▼ early summer growth

▲▼ rangeland with many sand sagebrush

▲▼ flowering plants

▲▼ flowering plants

▲ flowering stem

▲ leaf

Artemisia filifolia Torr., Sand Sagebrush: (Bayer Code:  ARTFI; US Code ARFI3)

·         Native, clump-forming perennial, semi-woody plant growing 1-4 feet tall

·         Leaves are gray-green to whitish due to presence of many tiny white hairs

·         Lower stem leaves have 3 linear lobes; upper-stem leaves are unlobed and linear with a sage-like or medicinal odor if bruised

·         Produces deep tap roots, plus fibrous roots near surface in higher moisture environments

·         Inflorescences are tiny, ragweed-like, in axils of leaves on upper stems; can be a source of allergenic pollen

·         Found in dry sites on native prairies and rangeland; more common in southwestern Midwest

·         Tends to increase in overgrazed areas due to low palatability

·         Characteristics to allow distinguishing from similar native species:

     o   Silver sagebrush (A. cana) has slightly wider, generally unlobed or shallowly lobed leaves throughout plant and is more common further north or at higher elevations

     o   Big sagebrush (A. tridentata )has slightly wider leaves with three short teeth at their leaftips

     o   Fringed sagebrush (A. frigida) does not produce persistent woody stems as do the other sagebrush mentioned, and its leaves are smaller (less than 1 inch diameter) and very much divided

     o   Louisiana wormwood (A. ludoviciana) is more common in the central Midwest and has linear lanceolate leaves that are unlobed or with a few shallow but wide (not linear) lobes

Native sagebrush/wormwood (Artemisia) species can provide valuable foot and habitat for many wildlife species, and so should not always be considered a weed in the sense that they should be controlled or eradicated.  Proper range management often allows for native species to continue as well as provide adequate grazing for domestic animals.

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Updated 19 January 2019