Artemisia spiciformis
Snowfield sagebrush
(c) Steve Matson, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Steve Matson · licence
Family: Asteraceae · Type: Shrub · Native
Artemisia spiciformis (Snowfield sagebrush) is a native California shrub in the Asteraceae family, recognized by root-sprouting habit and moist high-elevation habitat are distinctive.
Snowfield sagebrush is a California native shrub found in the Sierra Nevada and White and Inyo Mountains in moist open slopes to rocky meadows at elevations of 2,100 to 3,700 meters. Flowering from July to September, this plant produces small heads of flowers approximately 4.5 to 6 millimeters in diameter, arranged in tight, narrow clusters. Growing 30 to 80 centimeters tall with widely branching stems that are gray-tomentose and capable of root-sprouting, it forms a distinctive winter-deciduous shrub. Its leaves are 2.5 to 5.5 centimeters long, mostly entire or with 3 to 6 irregular teeth, turning yellow as they age. The plant produces 8 to 23 disk flowers and develops small, glabrous fruits approximately 1 millimeter long.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 11 sympatric species; root-sprouting habit and moist high-elevation habitat are distinctive
Habitat and range
Habitat: Common. Moist open slopes to rocky meadows
Elevation: 2100-3700 m
Outside California: to Wyoming, Colorado
Bloom period
Artemisia spiciformis 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 spiciformis native to California?
Yes. Artemisia spiciformis is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Artemisia spiciformis bloom?
Artemisia spiciformis blooms Jul-Sep.
What plant family does Artemisia spiciformis belong to?
Artemisia spiciformis is in the Asteraceae family, genus Artemisia.
What habitat does Artemisia spiciformis grow in?
Artemisia spiciformis grows in Common. Moist open slopes to rocky meadows.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · Index of California Plant Names · CalPhotos
Last updated 2026-10-06
Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Cal-IPC, and more.