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Reveal, James L.

Artemisia californica

Artemisia californica Less.

Coastal Sagebrush, California Sagebrush

Asteraceae (Aster Family)

Synonym(s):

USDA Symbol: ARCA11

USDA Native Status: L48 (N)

This evergreen shrub grows 1-3 ft. in height, or taller, and with an equal or greater width. The foliage is fine-textured, soft and gray-green. Flowers are numerous but insignificant.

There are two varieties of this sagebrush, one on the mainland and the other on the Channel Islands.

From the Image Gallery

19 photo(s) available in the Image Gallery

Plant Characteristics

Duration: Perennial
Habit: Shrub
Root Type: Tap
Leaf Retention: Evergreen
Size Notes: Up to about 8 feet tall, often much shorter.
Fruit: Fruit is a cypsela (pl. cypselae). Though technically incorrect, the fruit is often referred to as an achene.

Bloom Information

Bloom Color: Pink , Yellow , Green
Bloom Time: Jun , Jul , Aug , Sep , Oct , Nov

Distribution

USA: CA
Native Distribution: Coastal CA
Native Habitat: Coastal scrublands; semi-alkaline flats; dry slopes

Growing Conditions

Water Use: Low
Light Requirement: Sun
Soil Moisture: Dry
Soil Description: Poor, dry, well-drained soils.
Conditions Comments: After bloom, cut stems back if a neater appearance is desired. Useful for erosion control. Fast-growing. Pollen is a cause of hayfever.

Value to Beneficial Insects

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 cuttings taken in cool weather. Seeds germinate readily.
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 on display at the following locations:

Santa Barbara Botanic Garden - Santa Barbara, CA
Native Seed Network - Corvallis, OR

Bibliography

Bibref 995 - Native Landscaping from El Paso to L.A. (2000) Wasowski, S. and A. Wasowski

Search More Titles in Bibliography

Web Reference

Webref 30 - Calflora (2018) Calflora
Webref 38 - Flora of North America (2019) Missouri Botanical Garden, St. Louis, MO & Harvard University Herbaria, Cambridge, MA.
Webref 36 - Jepson eFlora (2019) The Jepson Herbarium, University of California, Berkeley
Webref 23 - Southwest Environmental Information Network (2009) SEINet - Arizona Chapter

Additional resources

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

Metadata

Record Modified: 2022-11-22
Research By: TWC Staff

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