SafePlants

Big Sagebrush (Artemisia tridentata)

Artemisia tridentata, commonly known as big sagebrush, Great Basin sagebrush, or simply sagebrush, is a widespread and ecologically important shrub found throughout western North America.

Taxonomy and Nomenclature

• Scientific Name: Artemisia tridentata
• Family: Asteraceae (also known as Compositae)
• Common Names: Big sagebrush, Great Basin sagebrush, Sagebrush, Big sage, Common wormwood, Basin sagebrush
• Subspecies:
  • Artemisia tridentata ssp. tridentata (Basin big sagebrush)
  • Artemisia tridentata ssp. vaseyana (Mountain big sagebrush)
  • Artemisia tridentata ssp. wyomingensis (Wyoming big sagebrush)
• Synonyms: Artemesia tridentata tridentata

Distribution and Habitat

• Big sagebrush is native to western North America, particularly the Great Basin region.
• It's the state flower of Nevada and a characteristic shrub of the Great Basin's intermountain valleys and low mountain ranges.
• It is commonly found on moderately shallow to deep, fertile, well-drained soils in valleys and foothills, up to 7,000 ft elevation.
• The species is also found in the Columbia Basin and throughout much of the Inter-Mountain Basins Big Sagebrush Shrubland ecological system.

Ecological Role

• Artemisia tridentata, especially Basin big sagebrush (Artemisia tridentata ssp. tridentata), can sometimes invade rangelands, especially those seeded with introduced grass species.
• Inter-Mountain Basins Big Sagebrush Steppe (CES304.778) is an important shrubland ecosystem where Artemisia tridentata ssp. wyomingensis is frequently found.

Morphological Characteristics

• Big sagebrush is an evergreen shrub that typically grows to a height of 1 1/2 to 9 feet, but can reach up to 15 feet on favorable sites, making it the tallest sagebrush species.
• It has a gnarled spread somewhat less than its height.
• Basin and Wyoming big sagebrush seeds are light brown.

Considerations for Pets

• Aromatic Properties: This plant is strongly aromatic, which may be of interest to some animals.

Considerations for Children

• Traditional Uses: Native Americans used sagebrush to ward off ticks. This suggests a history of interaction and potential handling of the plant.

Quirky Facts

• Big sagebrush is the state flower of Nevada.
• Some subspecies of Big Sagebrush can be light brown to seed color.

Further Information

• Modeling species distribution research in the Great Basin was funded in 2014.
• The Great Basin Native Plant Selection and Increase Project (GBNPSIP) is mentioned.
• Data Basin Dataset is a resource.