Artemisia californica aka California Sagebrush

Artemisia californica, or California sagebrush, belongs to the daisy family. Its native range runs from California into Baja California, Mexico. It grows in coastal scrub and on dry foothills. These sites often have thin soils with much gravel. They hold little water and few nutrients. The shrub also grows in desert and dry shrubland habitats.

This dense shrub has many stems and grows fast. Reported heights range from 5–6.6 feet [1.5–2 metres]. Plants can spread to 6.6 feet [2 metres]. The bark starts gray and turns gray-brown with age. Slender twigs have pale hairs and may have grooves. The small, gray-green leaves have hairs on both sides. They grow in an alternate pattern along the stems. Some leaves stay whole; others split into narrow lobes. The leaves have a strong scent. Early leaves are larger than those that grow later. Later leaves are smaller and tougher, on shoots from leaf axils. Plants can shed their leaves when drought sets in.

Small flower heads appear from summer through late fall. Their colors range from yellow-green to pink. The heads grow in racemes along the flowering stems. Wind carries the pollen, and plants can set seed alone. The fruits are small achenes that ripen in December. This shrub attracts wildlife, though the evidence names no animals. Its dense form and scented leaves provide garden interest. The flowers are small rather than showy.

California sagebrush suits climates with dry summers and moist winters. Grow it in full sun with soil that drains well. Sandy and loamy soils suit it, including poor soils. It accepts mildly acid, neutral, and mildly alkaline ground. It also tolerates salty soil and exposure near the sea. It can grow in dry or moist soil and withstand drought. Plants For A Future lists USDA zones 7–10. Its oils may help explain sparse growth beneath nearby shrubs. Rain can wash these compounds from leaves into the soil.

Plants For A Future lists no known food uses. It records past Native American uses for menstruation and childbirth. It also reports pollen use in treatment for hay fever. These records do not establish safe home use. The essential oil contains toxic terpenes. The same source reports no species-specific accounts of poisoning. The supplied evidence gives no specific pests or diseases.