Artemisia michauxiana
Lemon sagewort
(c) Matt Lavin, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA) · licence
Family: Asteraceae · Type: Subshrub · Native
Artemisia michauxiana (Lemon sagewort) is a native California subshrub in the Asteraceae family, recognized by alpine habitat 3000-3500m.
Lemon sagewort is a California native perennial found in the White and Inyo Mountains on subalpine to alpine scree, talus, and drainages at elevations of 3,000 to 3,500 meters. Flowering from May to August, this plant produces pale, nodding flower heads less than 5.5 millimeters in diameter, often with purple-tinged phyllaries dotted with yellow glands. Growing with multiple unbranched green stems 30 to 100 centimeters tall from a rhizome, it has a distinctive lemon-like fragrance when crushed. Its leaves are 1.5 to 11 centimeters long, ovate to obovate, divided into 1 to 2 pinnate segments, with green upper surfaces and white-woolly undersides. The plant contains yellow glands that contribute to its aromatic lemon-scented character and produce numerous pistillate and disk flowers.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: Geographically isolated; alpine habitat 3000-3500m
Habitat and range
Habitat: Subalpine to alpine scree, talus, drainages
Elevation: 3000-3500 m
Outside California: to British Columbia, Montana, Colorado
Bloom period
Artemisia michauxiana blooms May-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 michauxiana native to California?
Yes. Artemisia michauxiana is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Artemisia michauxiana bloom?
Artemisia michauxiana blooms May-Aug.
What plant family does Artemisia michauxiana belong to?
Artemisia michauxiana is in the Asteraceae family, genus Artemisia.
What habitat does Artemisia michauxiana grow in?
Artemisia michauxiana grows in Subalpine to alpine scree, talus, 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.