Artemisia tripartita aka Three Tip Sagebrush

Artemisia tripartita is a woody shrub in the daisy family, Asteraceae. It is deciduous, which means it sheds its leaves each year. Common names include threetip sagebrush and Wyoming threetip sagebrush. It comes from western Canada and parts of the United States. Its US range lies in the northwest and west-central states. Records list British Columbia, Washington, and Oregon. They also list Idaho, Nevada, and Wyoming. It grows on dry plains and hills. Some sites are more moist than nearby sagebrush ground. It grows higher up than its relative, big sagebrush.

This shrub grows at a moderate rate. Usual reported heights span about 0.7–4.9 feet [0.2–1.5 metres]. One other account gives 5.9 feet [1.8 metres]. Rare plants reach about 6.6 feet [2 metres]. It does not keep its leaves year-round. Flowers appear from July to August. Each flower has both male and female parts. Wind carries the pollen. The small seeds are hard to gather and use.

Give this plant full sun and soil that drains well. It does not grow in shade. It suits sandy soil and loam, even with few nutrients. It accepts mildly acid soil, neutral soil, and mildly alkaline soil. It prefers neutral to slightly alkaline loam. The soil can be dry or moist. Once roots have settled in, it copes well with drought. Poor, dry soil can help it live longer and withstand harsher conditions. Plants can send up new growth after fire. Published USDA guidance lists zones 6–9. But the source marks this range as needing review.

It can grow in garden beds with suitable sun and drainage. You can raise new plants from seed. Sow on the surface under glass. Do this from late winter through early summer. Use a mix that drains well, and do not let it dry out. Seeds can sprout in one to two weeks in a warm greenhouse. Keep young plants under glass through their first winter. Plant them outside in late spring or early summer. Half-ripe cuttings take time to root. You can also use division or layering to raise plants.

Records describe uses for food, folk remedies, and starting fires. They list leaves and seeds as edible but lack details on preparation. Past remedies used roots, leaves, and branches for colds and related complaints. People also used a plant wash for wound care. These records do not prove that these uses are safe or helpful. People have used the bark as tinder. The source reports no known cases of toxicity for this species. This does not prove it is safe.