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Artemisia species
Common Name Sage
Family Compositae (Sunflower Family)

Description

Sage is a staple in many ecological communities. It's often silvery coloration makes it an ornamental plant for any garden.

Range

Sagebrush is commonly found throughout the Intermountain West.

Culture

Most will do well with little or no subsequent irrigation.

Value

Sages are prevalent throughout the arid west, some more attractive than others. A. filifolia is a extremely fine-textured, 2-3' shrub that needs very well drained soil; A. frigida is a readily re-seeding subshrub that has gorgeous velour-like, bluish-gray foliage until overtaken by rather unattractive seed heads; A. tridentata is a very large shrub that is modestly attractive in the right (enough space) location; A. cana has the most silvery foliage that also is lost once the flower stalks appear. A. nova/A. rigida are very low growing species with more attractive flower stalks than most sages.

Propagation

Seed is extremely small, and is usually sold or collected along with remnants of the foliage. Because the seeds are so small, they will germinate only close to or on the surface of the seedbed. Large sagebrush species seeds responded well to cold treatments. To start seed indoors sow seed onto soil in the selected container. DO NOT COVER. It is very important to keep the seed and duff moist until full germination has occurred. As the seeds are very small sprinkle them very lightly so when they germinate the plants will not be too close together and start to rot. For starting in the desired location sow seed in the late fall using a pinch per area. Just rub seed around on the soil surface with a hand and water in.