Artemisia ludoviciana subsp. ludoviciana
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Family: Asteraceae · Type: Subshrub · Native
Artemisia ludoviciana subsp. ludoviciana is a native California subshrub in the Asteraceae family, recognized by large, shallowly lobed leaves distinctive.
White sagebrush is a California native perennial found in the Klamath Ranges, northern Coast Ranges, Sierra Nevada, San Joaquin Valley, southwestern California, Great Basin, and Mojave Desert in rocky soils, scrub, and conifer forest at elevations below 2,600 meters. Flowering from July to September, this plant produces small greenish-white flowers in narrow clusters with 6 to 20 disk flowers. Growing with upright stems 30 to 90 centimeters tall, it forms clumps with a distinctive white-tomentose appearance. Its leaves are primarily 3 to 11 centimeters long, initially white-woolly on both surfaces, sometimes becoming less hairy, with entire margins or occasionally few-toothed near the leaf tip. The plant is characterized by its soft, silvery-white foliage that creates a distinctive landscape presence in dry, rocky environments.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 23 sympatric species; large, shallowly lobed leaves distinctive
Habitat and range
Habitat: Rocky soils, scrub, conifer forest
Elevation: < 2600 m
Outside California: to British Columbia, eastern Canada, eastern United States, northern Mexico
Bloom period
Artemisia ludoviciana subsp. ludoviciana blooms Jul-Sep.
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 ludoviciana subsp. ludoviciana native to California?
Yes. Artemisia ludoviciana subsp. ludoviciana is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Artemisia ludoviciana subsp. ludoviciana bloom?
Artemisia ludoviciana subsp. ludoviciana blooms Jul-Sep.
What plant family does Artemisia ludoviciana subsp. ludoviciana belong to?
Artemisia ludoviciana subsp. ludoviciana is in the Asteraceae family, genus Artemisia.
What habitat does Artemisia ludoviciana subsp. ludoviciana grow in?
Artemisia ludoviciana subsp. ludoviciana grows in Rocky soils, scrub, conifer forest.
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.