Artemisia nova
Black sagebrush
(c) Matt Lavin, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA) · licence
Family: Asteraceae · Type: Shrub · Native
Artemisia nova (Black sagebrush) is a native California shrub in the Asteraceae family, recognized by low stature and 3-toothed wedge-shaped leaves are key.
Black sagebrush is a California native shrub found in the Great Basin, eastern Sierra Nevada Mountains, Desert Mountains, and San Jacinto Mountains in shallow rocky soils at elevations below 2,300 meters. Flowering from September to November, this plant produces small heads of flowers approximately 1 to 2 millimeters in diameter with straw-colored, shiny-resinous phyllaries. Growing as a compact shrub 10 to 30 centimeters tall with a loose, branching structure from a short trunk, it remains evergreen with a grayish-white (canescent) appearance that becomes somewhat smooth with age. Its leaves are distinctive, wedge-shaped and typically 5 to 20 millimeters long, with three teeth at the tip and entire margins on flowering stems. The plant produces tiny fruits about 1 millimeter long, which are ribbed and may be dotted with resin glands.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 20 sympatric species; low stature and 3-toothed wedge-shaped leaves are key
Habitat and range
Habitat: Shallow rocky soils in desert valleys, dry slopes
Elevation: < 2300 m
Outside California: to Oregon, Montana, New Mexico
Bloom period
Artemisia nova blooms Sep-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 nova native to California?
Yes. Artemisia nova is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Artemisia nova bloom?
Artemisia nova blooms Sep-Nov.
What plant family does Artemisia nova belong to?
Artemisia nova is in the Asteraceae family, genus Artemisia.
What habitat does Artemisia nova grow in?
Artemisia nova grows in Shallow rocky soils in desert valleys, dry slopes.
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.