SafePlants

Big Sagebrush: An Aromatic Shrub of the American West

Artemisia tridentata, commonly known as big sagebrush, Great Basin sagebrush, or simply sagebrush, is a familiar sight across the western United States. This aromatic shrub plays a vital role in its native ecosystems.

Considerations for Pets

• Big sagebrush is a strongly scented, woody evergreen shrub.

Taxonomy and Nomenclature

• Scientific Name: Artemisia tridentata Nutt.
• Family: Asteraceae (Aster or Sunflower family), also known as Compositae
• Common Names: Sagebrush, Big Sagebrush, Bonneville big sagebrush, Basin big sagebrush, Mountain big sagebrush, Common Sagebrush, Blue Sagebrush, Black Sagebrush.
• Subspecies:
  • Artemisia tridentata ssp. tridentata (Basin big sagebrush)
  • Artemisia tridentata ssp. parishii
  • Artemisia tridentata ssp. wyomingensis (Wyoming big sagebrush)
  • Artemisia tridentata var. vaseyana (Vasey's big sagebrush)
• Synonyms: big sagebush

Distribution and Habitat

• Big sagebrush is native to the western United States, particularly the Great Basin.
• It thrives in silty and sandy soils, often in communities with bunchgrasses.
• It is the most common and widely distributed sage species in the western United States.
• It is the characteristic shrub of the Great Basin's intermountain valleys and low mountain ranges.
• It can also be found in fields and waste areas in the east and in chaparral biomes.

Ecological Role

• Big sagebrush is a key foundational species in its ecosystem.
• It provides habitat for numerous wildlife species.
• Big sagebrush rapidly colonizes on heavily grazed lands.
• It is threatened by invasive species like cheatgrass.

Morphological Characteristics

• Big sagebrush is an evergreen, perennial shrub.
• It typically grows to about 4 feet tall, but can range from 1.3 to 15 feet.
• It is a much-branched gray-green shrub with a pungent sagelike aroma.
• It has a short, thick trunk or a few stems rising from the base.
• Young stems are silvery-gray, while older stems become grayish.
• Numerous flowers occur along many stalks.

Quirky Facts

• Big sagebrush is the state flower of Nevada and the state shrub of Wyoming.
• Native Americans used sagebrush to ward off ticks.
• The local Washoe tribe called this plant "dabal" and used the bark for baby care.

Interactions with Other Organisms

• Livestock tend to avoid eating big sagebrush due to its bitter leaves.
• It provides habitat for sage-grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus) and elk.
• It can be found in association with Idaho fescue (Festuca idahoensis) and/or pinegrass.

Further Information

• PLANTS database
• Alberta Native Plant Council
• Udall Laboratory (for ongoing research)
• Handbook of Western Reclamation Techniques, Second Edition