Artemisia douglasiana
Mugwort, Mugwort
Photo by Chez Brungraber
Family: Asteraceae · Type: Herb · Native
Artemisia douglasiana (Mugwort) is a native California herb in the Asteraceae family, recognized by rhizomatous habit and moist habitat preference are key.
Mugwort is a California native perennial herb found in the California Floristic Province, Modoc Plateau, and northern Sierra Nevada Eastern regions in open to shady areas, often near drainages, at elevations up to 2,200 meters. Flowering from May to November, this plant produces small bell-shaped flower heads in pale green to grayish clusters, typically 2 to 4 millimeters in diameter. Growing with multiple erect stems 50 to 250 centimeters tall, the plant emerges from a spreading rhizome and displays brown to gray-green stems covered in soft woolly hairs. Its leaves are distinctively arranged along the stem, ranging 1 to 11 centimeters long, with narrowly elliptic to widely oblanceolate shapes that are entire or have 3 to 5 lobes near the tip, appearing sparsely hairy on top and densely white-woolly underneath. The plant forms intricate leafy panicle-like clusters with erect to slightly nodding flower heads, each containing 5 to 9 pistillate flowers and 6 to 25 disk flowers.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 25 sympatric species; rhizomatous habit and moist habitat preference are key
Habitat and range
Habitat: Common. Open to shady areas, often in drainages
Elevation: < 2200 m
Outside California: to Washington, Idaho, Baja California
Bloom period
Artemisia douglasiana blooms May-Nov.
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 douglasiana native to California?
Yes. Artemisia douglasiana is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Artemisia douglasiana bloom?
Artemisia douglasiana blooms May-Nov.
What plant family does Artemisia douglasiana belong to?
Artemisia douglasiana is in the Asteraceae family, genus Artemisia.
What habitat does Artemisia douglasiana grow in?
Artemisia douglasiana grows in Common. Open to shady areas, often in drainages.
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.