Artemisia palmeri
San diego sagewort, San Diego Sagewort, San Diego sagewort, San Diego sagewort
(c) mel letterman, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Asteraceae · Type: Subshrub · Native
Conservation status: CNPS 4.2
Artemisia palmeri (San diego sagewort) is a native California subshrub in the Asteraceae family, recognized by low elevation moist habitat and brittle stems are distinctive.
San diego sagewort is a California native perennial herb found in southern California coastal and Peninsular Ranges in moist drainages and sandy soil at elevations below 600 meters. Flowering from June to October, this plant produces yellow-green flowers in small discoid heads approximately 2.5 to 3.5 millimeters wide, arranged in open, nodding panicle-like clusters. Growing 80 to 300 centimeters tall with brittle, wand-like stems emerging from a somewhat woody base, it is strongly aromatic. Its deeply lobed leaves are 3.5 to 15 centimeters long, gray-green with pinnately divided blades that are glabrous to sparsely hairy. This distinctive sagewort is characterized by its complex leaf structure and strongly scented foliage.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 14 sympatric species; low elevation moist habitat and brittle stems are distinctive
Habitat and range
Habitat: Moist drainages, sandy soil
Elevation: < 600 m
Outside California: Baja California
Bloom period
Artemisia palmeri blooms Generally Jun-Oct.
Conservation status
CNPS 4.2
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 palmeri native to California?
Yes. Artemisia palmeri is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Artemisia palmeri bloom?
Artemisia palmeri blooms Generally Jun-Oct.
What plant family does Artemisia palmeri belong to?
Artemisia palmeri is in the Asteraceae family, genus Artemisia.
Is Artemisia palmeri rare or endangered?
Artemisia palmeri carries California Rare Plant Rank 4.2, state rank S3?.
What habitat does Artemisia palmeri grow in?
Artemisia palmeri grows in Moist drainages, sandy soil.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · CNPS Rare Plant Inventory · Index of California Plant Names · CalPhotos · CDFW CNDDB
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.