Artemisia rothrockii
Rothrock sagebrush
(c) Matt Lavin, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Asteraceae · Type: Shrub · Native
Artemisia rothrockii (Rothrock sagebrush) is a native California shrub in the Asteraceae family, recognized by sticky-resinous texture and clay meadow habitat are key.
Rothrock sagebrush is a California native shrub found in central and southern Sierra Nevada Mountains, Sierra Nevada foothills, San Bernardino Mountains, northern eastern Sierra Nevada, and White and Inyo Mountains in clay soils and meadows at elevations of 2,000 to 3,100 meters. Flowering from August to September, this plant produces small heads with straw-colored flowers approximately 3 to 5 millimeters in diameter. Growing 2 to 5 decimeters tall from a narrow trunk, it forms a dark gray-green shrub with a pungently aromatic character and sticky-resinous texture. Its evergreen leaves are 1 to 1.5 centimeters long, typically three-lobed, canescent, and somewhat sticky with a grayish appearance. The shrub is distinctively aromatic, with dense, narrow panicle-like clusters and stems that can be slightly white-hairy.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 14 sympatric species; sticky-resinous texture and clay meadow habitat are key
Habitat and range
Habitat: Clay soils, meadows
Elevation: 2000-3100 m
Bloom period
Artemisia rothrockii blooms Aug-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 rothrockii native to California?
Yes. Artemisia rothrockii is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Artemisia rothrockii bloom?
Artemisia rothrockii blooms Aug-Sep.
What plant family does Artemisia rothrockii belong to?
Artemisia rothrockii is in the Asteraceae family, genus Artemisia.
What habitat does Artemisia rothrockii grow in?
Artemisia rothrockii grows in Clay soils, meadows.
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.