Artemisia bigelovii
Bigelow sagewort
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Family: Asteraceae · Type: Shrub · Native
Artemisia bigelovii (Bigelow sagewort) is a native California shrub in the Asteraceae family, recognized by habitat and silvery curved branches are key.
Bigelow sagewort is a California native shrub found in the White and Inyo Mountains and Desert Mountains on sandy, often limestone soils at elevations of 1,300 to 1,900 meters. Flowering from August to October, this plant produces small nodding flower heads approximately 2 to 2.5 millimeters in diameter, with delicate silvery-gray coloration. Growing as a rounded subshrub 40 to 60 centimeters tall, it develops many slender, curved stems that branch from the base and are densely covered in silvery-canescent hairs. Its leaves are narrow and linear, 0.5 to 3 centimeters long, with entire margins or occasionally sharp three-toothed tips, densely covered in fine hairs. The plant forms tight, panicle-like clusters of small, intricate flower heads with ovate phyllaries that have narrowly scarious margins.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 11 sympatric species; habitat and silvery curved branches are key
Habitat and range
Habitat: Sandy, often limestone soils
Elevation: 1300-1900 m
Outside California: to Colorado, Texas
Bloom period
Artemisia bigelovii blooms Aug-Oct.
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 bigelovii native to California?
Yes. Artemisia bigelovii is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Artemisia bigelovii bloom?
Artemisia bigelovii blooms Aug-Oct.
What plant family does Artemisia bigelovii belong to?
Artemisia bigelovii is in the Asteraceae family, genus Artemisia.
What habitat does Artemisia bigelovii grow in?
Artemisia bigelovii grows in Sandy, often limestone soils.
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.