Artemisia tridentata aka Basin Sagebrush

Artemisia tridentata, or big sagebrush, belongs to the daisy family. Its native range runs from western Canada to northern Baja California. It also reaches Nebraska and the Dakotas in the east. This shrub forms a key part of western sagebrush habitats. It grows on dry plains, plateaus, hills, and mountain foothills. Wildlife uses it for both food and shelter.

This evergreen shrub has many branches and an upright shape. PFAF gives a height of about 8 feet [2.5 metres]. Oregon State and Virginia Tech report plants reaching 15 feet [4.5 metres]. Some plants take on a small tree form. Its growth rate is moderate. Young twigs have fine hairs and a silver-gray color. Older twigs turn gray-brown. The gray-brown bark splits along its length and sheds in strips.

The leaves are simple, narrow, and shaped like a wedge. Three lobes mark the tip of each leaf. Fine hairs cover both sides and give them a silver-green look. Leaves grow without stalks and often cluster at stem nodes. They have a strong scent. The plant keeps leaves through winter, but drought can cause leaf loss. Tiny yellowish, tubular flowers grow in heads on upright spikes. PFAF places flowering in October, with seeds ripening in October and November. Wind carries the pollen, and the plant can fertilize itself. Its small, dry fruits are achenes with four or five ribs.

Grow big sagebrush in full sun and soil that drains well. Sandy, loamy, or rocky ground suits it, including poor soil. It tolerates drought, while wet soil is a poor match. Oregon State says it needs no irrigation. PFAF lists USDA zones 3–8; Oregon State gives zone 4. It can grow in mildly acid, neutral, and alkaline soils. Its silver leaves and scent suit sunny beds and garden edges.

People have used its bark for weaving and stuffing. Its leaves, buds, and stems yield a yellow or gold dye. Other recorded uses include insect repellents, cleaning washes, and hair rinses. Indigenous peoples used it for a range of medicinal purposes. These records do not establish safe or effective treatments. The tiny seeds have served as food, raw or cooked. Reports differ on their taste and value as food. Leaves have been used for seasoning and bitter tea. PFAF reports no known toxicity for this species.