Native Plants

Q. Who is Mr. Smarty Plants?
A: There are those who suspect Wildflower Center volunteers are the culpable and capable culprits. Yet, others think staff members play some, albeit small, role. You can torture us with your plant questions, but we will never reveal the Green Guru's secret identity.
Did you know you can access the Native Plant Information Network with your web-enabled smartphone?
Ask Mr. Smarty Plants is a free service provided by the staff and volunteers at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center.

rate this answer

Friday - August 06, 2010
From: Westminster, CO
Region: Rocky Mountain
Topic: Propagation, Seeds and Seeding
Title: Sagebrush for Westminster CO
Answered by: Barbara Medford
QUESTION:
On a recent visit to Taos, NM we fell in love with the local sagebrush. We would like to plant this sagebrush in our yard. We are located near Denver Colorado. Would this plant survive and how do we go about obtaining the sagebrush? We would be willing to travel down to Taos. Is it O.K. to just go out and dig up sagebrush in the open areas and bring it back to Colorado or can it be purchased at a nursery?ANSWER:
Quickly, before we cover the rest of your question - no, it is never all right to dig up plants in any area, open or not, without permission from the landowner. We are familiar with the area you are talking about, and some of it is national forest, some state parks or historical monuments, but all of it is owned by someone, either a political entity or a person or a corporation, or a Native American area. What looks like plants all alone out in a desolate area could even be threatened or endangered plants, being allowed to propagate themselves in place, in hopes of increasing the population of that plant. And, in most areas, rural or urban, it is a felony to remove anything, even plants, from a property without express permission.
Now, to try and address your specific question. There are 18 members of the genus artemisia native to North America, 10 of those native to Colorado and 9 to New Mexico, and all having the word "sagebrush" as one of their common names. Our choice as the best possibility is Artemisia tridentata (big sagebrush), which is native to the area around Taos County, in north central New Mexico (USDA Plant Profile) as well as to Adams and Jefferson Counties in Colorado (USDA Plant Profile).
What should be noted is from our Native Plant Database page on this plant:
"Plants are extremely drought tolerant and are susceptible to root rot if too wet. Nitrogen-fixing. Commercial seed of this species may belong to one of three common subspecies: Basin - tridentata, Mountain - vaseyana & Wyoming - wyomingensis. These subspecies are adapted to distinct environments, so it is important to identify seed sources."
The point here is you could dig up (please don't!) or purchase a plant or even seeds labelled as Artemesia tridentata and move it from New Mexico to Colorado, but it could be a sub-species adapted to a different environment. This article from Plants for a Future Artemisia Tridentata indicates that it is propagated by seed. Seed production is from October to December; seeds germinate as early as April. Therefore, if you purchase seed, you should be ready to plant it no later than December.
Since we are in doubt that plants or seeds purchased from a nursery in New Mexico would thrive in Colorado, we suggest you contact the Colorado Native Plant Society for some information. That Society also has a Links page which will help you narrow down the area you are studying. For even closer to home information, contact the Colorado State University Extension Office for Adams County or Jefferson County. Finally, go to our National Suppliers' Directory, type your town and state in the "Enter Search Location" box, and you will get a list of native plant seed suppliers, nurseries and consultants in your general area. You can contact them for seed purchase, and remember to ask where the seed was collected.
Pictures of Artemisia tridentata (big sagebrush) from Google.
From the Image Gallery
More Propagation Questions
Seed pods on Acer grandidentatum
June 23, 2007 - Hi, we have three young Big Tooth Maples that are doing very well in our pasture. We bought them already established and small. However, we would like to start some. Do they produce a seed?? What wo...
view the full question and answer
Growing Texas mountain laurel in a pot
March 07, 2016 - I have a really good friend who Mom pass away just recently and they were the best of friends. She loved her mother dearly and did tons of stuff together. Recently I posted a picture of a Mountain L...
view the full question and answer
Taking a cutting from Niagara grape in Warfordsburg PA
April 27, 2010 - How do I take a cutting from a Niagara grape plant, and then re-plant that cutting?
view the full question and answer
Mexican Sycamore trees grown from seed
November 15, 2011 - If someone is selling an alleged Mexican Sycamore grown from a seed harvested from a mature tree growing in Austin, is it likely to be a TRUE Mexican Sycamore -- or has it most likely been pollinated ...
view the full question and answer
Transplanting of yucca plants
May 26, 2006 - We have several Arkansas Yucca plants in our yard that we want to transplant to a plant bed. How do we do that?
view the full question and answer
Support the Wildflower Center by Donating Online or Becoming a Member today. |