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Native Plant Database

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Artemisia frigida (Prairie sagewort)
Weyand, Phyllis

Artemisia frigida Willd.

Prairie sagewort, Prairie sagebrush, Fringed sage, Pasture sage

Asteraceae (Aster Family)

USDA Symbol: ARFR4

USDA Native Status: Native to U.S.

This is a low-spreading, semi-evergreen shrub, with numerous stems arising from a woody base to 18 in. The deeply-divided, soft, woolly, gray-green leaves are fine-textured (almost hair-like) and aromatic. The pale yellow flowers and the fruit are rather inconspicuous.

Drought tolerant. A good soil stabilizer and ground cover. Important winter feed for Elk, Pronghorn, and deer. Pollen is a cause of hay fever. Edible herb, aromatic

 

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Plant Characteristics

Duration: Perennial
Habit: Subshrub
Root Type: Tap
Leaf: Gray-Green
Flower:
Fruit:
Size Class: 1-3 ft.

Bloom Information

Bloom Color: Yellow
Bloom Time: Jun , Jul , Aug

Distribution

USA: AK , AZ , CO , CT , IA , ID , IL , KS , MA , MI , MN , MO , MT , ND , NE , NJ , NM , NV , NY , PA , SD , TX , UT , VT , WA , WI , WY
Canada: AB , BC , MB , NB , ON , QC , SK , YT
Native Distribution: AK to e. WA & n. AZ, e. to WI & TX
Native Habitat: Open, high plains; alpine areas
USDA Native Status: L48(N), AK(N), CAN(N)

Growing Conditions

Water Use: Low
Light Requirement: Sun
Soil Moisture: Dry
CaCO3 Tolerance: High
Soil Description: Poor, dry soil.
Conditions Comments: Shear flower stems off to basal foliage to induce new growth and keep the plant in its prime. Drought tolerant. A good soil stabilizer and ground cover. Considered a weed in rangelands because it increases rapidly in heavily grazed areas. Pollen is a cause of hayfever.

Benefit

Use Wildlife: Important winter feed for elk and deer.
Use Food: Edible herb, aromatic
Conspicuous Flowers: yes
Fragrant Flowers: yes
Interesting Foliage: yes
Fragrant Foliage: yes

Value to Beneficial Insects

Special Value to Native Bees
Provides Nesting Materials/Structure for Native Bees

This information was provided by the Pollinator Program at The Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation.

Propagation

Description: Increase by division of mature plants, by rhizome cuttings or by layering. Seeds germinate well.
Seed Collection: Not Available
Seed Treatment: Not Available
Commercially Avail: yes

Find Seed or Plants

Find seed sources for this species at the Native Seed Network.

View propagation protocol from Native Plants Network.

From the National Organizations Directory

According to the species list provided by Affiliate Organizations, this plant is either on display or available from the following:

Native Seed Network - Corvallis, OR

Bibliography

Bibref 946 - Gardening with Prairie Plants: How to Create Beautiful Native Landscapes (2002) Wasowski, Sally

Search More Titles in Bibliography

From the Archive

Wildflower Newsletter 1990 VOL. 7, NO.4 - Research Update, Wild-Collecting Endangers Natives, Director's Report, Maryland ...

Recommended Species Lists

Find native plant species by state. Each list contains commercially available species suitable for gardens and planned landscapes. Once you have selected a collection, you can browse the collection or search within it using the combination search.

View Recommended Species page

Additional resources

USDA: Find Artemisia frigida in USDA Plants
FNA: Find Artemisia frigida in the Flora of North America (if available)
Google: Search Google for Artemisia frigida

Metadata

Record Modified: 2009-02-19
Research By: TWC Staff

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