Data provided by the participants of the Consortium of California Herbaria

View additional distribution information on the Jepson eflora

Artemisia arbuscula is a species of sagebrush known by the common names little sagebrush, low sagebrush, or black sagebrush. It is native to the western United States from Washington to California to Colorado, where it grows in open, exposed habitat on dry, sterile soils high in rock and clay content. This is a gray-green to gray shrub forming mounds generally no higher than 30 centimeters. Its many branches are covered in hairy leaves each less than a centimeter long. The flower cluster is a spike-shaped array of clusters of hairy flower heads. Each head contains a few pale yellow disc florets. The fruit is a tiny achene less than a millimeter wide.

Plant type

Shrub

Size

1 - 2 ft Tall

Growth rate

Slow

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Color

White, Cream, Yellow

Flowering season

Summer

Special uses

Bank stabilization, Groundcover

Sun

Full Sun

Water

Low, Moderate

Ease of care

Moderate

Soil drainage

Slow

Soil description

Adaptable, tolerant of sand, loam and clay.

Site type

Clay soil slopes

Plant communities

Northern Juniper Woodland, Pinyon-Juniper Woodland, Sagebrush Scrub

Bats
Birds
Caterpillars
Butterflies

Butterflies and moths supported

0 confirmed and 19 likely

Confirmed Likely

Painted Tiger Moth

Arachnis picta

Aseptis characta

Aseptis susquesa

Epiblema benignatum