Artemisia tridentata
Big sagebrush
Photo by Chez Brungraber
Family: Asteraceae · Type: Shrub · Native
Artemisia tridentata (Big sagebrush) is a native California shrub in the Asteraceae family, recognized by size and three-toothed leaves.
Big sagebrush is a California native shrub found in various western mountain ranges, desert, and interior regions in dry, open habitats at elevations ranging from low to mid-elevation zones. Flowering from August to October, this plant produces small yellow to greenish flowers in tiny discoid heads approximately 1 to 3 millimeters in diameter. Growing up to 3 meters tall with a thick trunk and gray-green branches, it develops a distinctively dense and compact form with multiple stems. Its leaves are wedge-shaped, generally 1 to 3 centimeters long, often with 3 teeth or lobes at the tip, and covered in dense gray hairs that give the plant a soft, silvery appearance. The shrub produces small fruits 1 to 2 millimeters long, which are typically glandular or hairy.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 23 sympatric species; size and three-toothed leaves are diagnostic
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 tridentata native to California?
Yes. Artemisia tridentata is native to California (recorded as native).
What plant family does Artemisia tridentata belong to?
Artemisia tridentata is in the Asteraceae family, genus Artemisia.
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.