Artemisia arbuscula subsp. arbuscula
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Family: Asteraceae · Type: Shrub · Native
Artemisia arbuscula subsp. arbuscula is a native California shrub in the Asteraceae family, recognized by no sympatric species.
Little sagebrush is a California native shrub found in eastern Sierra Nevada and Great Basin regions in clay valleys and mountain slopes at elevations of 1,500 to 3,800 meters. Flowering from July to August, this plant produces small, inconspicuous yellow-green flowers in compact clusters. Growing as a low, dense shrub 30 to 60 centimeters tall with multiple woody stems, it forms tight clumps in harsh mountain environments. Its leaves on flowering stems are shallowly three-lobed, with lower leaves being more divided and upper leaves becoming simpler and entire. The compact, mounded growth habit helps this plant survive in high-elevation, exposed landscapes with challenging soil conditions.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: Geographically isolated; no sympatric species
Habitat and range
Habitat: Clay soils, valleys, slopes
Elevation: 1500-3800 m
Bloom period
Artemisia arbuscula subsp. arbuscula blooms Jul-Aug.
How to tell it apart
vs Salvia: Artemisia has tiny clustered flower heads in the sunflower family; Salvia has two-lipped tubular flowers in the mint family with square stems.; vs Ambrosia: Artemisia has fused anthers and typically silvery foliage; Ambrosia has free anthers and often deeply lobed green leaves.; vs Ericameria: Artemisia is aromatic with inconspicuous greenish heads lacking rays; Ericameria has bright yellow daisy-like heads with showy ray petals.; vs Pseudognaphalium: Artemisia has no seed bristles and woody stems; Pseudognaphalium has fluffy white pappus bristles and soft herbaceous stems.; vs Eschscholzia: Artemisia has tiny greenish clustered flower heads; Eschscholzia has large showy orange or yellow poppy flowers with 4 petals.
Frequently asked questions
Is Artemisia arbuscula subsp. arbuscula native to California?
Yes. Artemisia arbuscula subsp. arbuscula is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Artemisia arbuscula subsp. arbuscula bloom?
Artemisia arbuscula subsp. arbuscula blooms Jul-Aug.
What plant family does Artemisia arbuscula subsp. arbuscula belong to?
Artemisia arbuscula subsp. arbuscula is in the Asteraceae family, genus Artemisia.
What habitat does Artemisia arbuscula subsp. arbuscula grow in?
Artemisia arbuscula subsp. arbuscula grows in Clay soils, valleys, slopes.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · Index of California Plant Names · CalPhotos
Last updated 2026-10-07
Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Cal-IPC, and more.