Artemisia californica

California sagebrush

Family: Asteraceae · Type: shrub · Native

California sagebrush is a California native shrub found in central and southern coastal and inland areas in coastal scrub, chaparral, and open woodland at elevations below 800 meters. Flowering from August to November, this plant produces small, nodding heads of yellow-green flowers less than 5 millimeters in diameter. Growing with slender, flexible, wand-like stems 1.2 to 2.5 meters tall that branch from the base, it forms a rounded, open shape. Its distinctive leaves are thread-like, often with curled margins, ranging from 1 to 10 centimeters long and varying from entire to finely divided, with a light green to gray coloration. The plant produces tiny fruits less than 1.5 millimeters long, dotted with resin glands and barely accompanied by a pappus.

Habitat: Coastal scrub, chaparral, open woodland

Bloom period: Aug-Nov

Elevation: < 800 m

Bioregions: CW, SW

Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Jepson eFlora, Cal-IPC, and more.