SafePlants

Big Sagebrush (Artemisia tridentata)

Big sagebrush, with its distinctive aroma and gray-green foliage, is an iconic shrub of the American West. This plant plays a crucial role in its native ecosystems and has a rich history of use by Native American peoples.

Considerations for Pets

• This plant is strongly scented, and the leaves are noted for their bitterness, which could potentially deter browsing animals.

Considerations for Children

• Native Americans used the bark for baby care.

Common Names

• Accepted Scientific Name: Artemisia tridentata
• Common Names: Big Sagebrush, Great Basin Sagebrush, Sagebrush, Common Sagebrush, Blue Sagebrush, Black Sagebrush
• Other Common Names Mentioned: Bonneville Big Sagebrush, Basin Big Sagebrush, Mountain Big Sagebrush, Wyoming Big Sagebrush

Taxonomy and Nomenclature

• Family: Asteraceae (also known as Compositae or Sunflower family)
• Genus: Artemisia, named after Artemis, the Greek goddess of hunting.
• Subspecies and Varieties Mentioned:
  • Artemisia tridentata ssp. tridentata (Basin Big Sagebrush)
  • Artemisia tridentata ssp. parishii (Parish's Big Sagebrush) - listed as an alternate name.
  • Artemisia tridentata var. vaseyana (Vasey's Big Sagebrush)
  • Artemisia tridentata ssp. wyomingensis (Wyoming Big Sagebrush)
• Synonyms: The text mentions "big sagebush" as an English synonym, and lists several subspecies and varieties.

Distribution and Habitat

• Big sagebrush is most common and widely distributed in the western United States, particularly in the Great Basin.
• It is a characteristic shrub of the Great Basin’s intermountain valleys and low mountain ranges.
• It grows in silty and sandy soils, often in communities with bunchgrasses.
• It is also found in the Chaparral biome.

Ecological Role

• Big sagebrush is a key foundational species in its ecosystem.
• It provides habitat for numerous wildlife species.
• It can rapidly colonize on heavily grazed lands, as livestock often avoid eating its bitter leaves.
• The text mentions the loss of big sagebrush due to fire and subsequent restoration efforts.
• The plant's habitat is threatened by cheatgrass invasion.

Morphological Characteristics

• Big sagebrush is an aromatic, woody evergreen shrub.
• It is freely branched above with young stems that are silvery-gray and older stems that become grayish.
• It has a pungent sagelike aroma.
• It typically grows to about 4 feet tall, but can range from 1.3 to 15 feet.
• It may have a short, thick trunk or a few stems rising from the base.
• Leaves are evergreen.
• Numerous flowers occur along many stalks.
• The plant is described as much-branched and gray-green.

Quirky Facts

• Big sagebrush is the state flower of Nevada and the official state shrub of Wyoming.
• Native Americans, specifically the Washoe tribe, called this plant "dabal" and used the bark for baby care.

Interactions with Other Organisms

• Native Americans used sagebrush to ward off ticks.
• Vasey's big sagebrush is often found with an herb layer dominated by Idaho fescue and/or pinegrass.
• The plant provides habitat for sage-grouse and elk.

Further Information

• PLANTS database (mentioned in a photo credit)
• Alberta Native Plant Council
• Udall Laboratory (conducting research on Big Sagebrush)
• Handbook of Western Reclamation Techniques, Second Edition
• Rangeland Ecology & Management journal.