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Flaigg, Norman G.

Artemisia filifolia

Artemisia filifolia Torr.

Sand Sagebrush, Silver Sagebrush, Silvery Wormwood, Sand Sage

Asteraceae (Aster Family)

Synonym(s): Oligosporus filifolius

USDA Symbol: ARFI2

USDA Native Status: L48 (N)

A semi-evergreen shrub with feathery, silver-blue foliage. The graceful, windswept form is compact and the whole plant is sweetly pungent. Flowers and fruit are inconspicuous. 3-6 ft. tall and wide.

Good for erosion control. May self-sow in preferred conditions. A hayfever plant.

From the Image Gallery

20 photo(s) available in the Image Gallery

Plant Characteristics

Duration: Perennial
Habit: Subshrub
Leaf Retention: Deciduous
Size Notes: Up to about 6 feet tall, often shorter.
Leaf: Grayish-green
Fruit: Fruit is a cypsela (pl. cypselae). Though technically incorrect, the fruit is often referred to as an achene.

Bloom Information

Bloom Color: Yellow , Brown
Bloom Time: Aug , Sep , Oct , Nov

Distribution

USA: AZ , CO , CT , KS , NE , NM , NV , NY , OK , SD , TX , UT , WY
Native Distribution: NE & WY, s. to AZ, TX & n. Mex.
Native Habitat: Dunes

Growing Conditions

Water Use: Low
Light Requirement: Part Shade
Soil Moisture: Dry
Cold Tolerant: yes
Soil Description: Sandy
Conditions Comments: Shearing ruins the delicacy of the foliage. Too much water induces rank growth. Good for erosion control. May self-sow in preferred conditions. A hayfever plant.

Benefit

Use Ornamental: Aromatic, Accent tree or shrub, Erosion control, Border, Backdrop
Use Wildlife: Seeds are an important food for sharptail grouse and other birds. Cover, Fruit-birds
Conspicuous Flowers: yes

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

Propagation Material: Seeds
Description: Propagate by seed.

Find Seed or Plants

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

From the National Organizations Directory

According to the species list provided by Affiliate Organizations, this plant is on display at the following locations:

Sibley Nature Center - Midland, TX
Texas Parks and Wildlife Department - Austin, TX
Native Seed Network - Corvallis, OR

Bibliography

Bibref 946 - Gardening with Prairie Plants: How to Create Beautiful Native Landscapes (2002) Wasowski, Sally
Bibref 355 - Landscaping with Native Plants of Texas and the Southwest (1991) Miller, G. O.
Bibref 318 - Native Texas Plants: Landscaping Region by Region (2002) Wasowski, S. & A. Wasowski
Bibref 291 - Texas Wildscapes: Gardening for Wildlife (1999) Damude, N. & K.C. Bender

Search More Titles in Bibliography

Web Reference

Webref 38 - Flora of North America (2019) Missouri Botanical Garden, St. Louis, MO & Harvard University Herbaria, Cambridge, MA.
Webref 74 - Southwest Colorado Wildflowers (2020) Rocky Mountain Biological Laboratory
Webref 23 - Southwest Environmental Information Network (2009) SEINet - Arizona Chapter

Additional resources

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

Metadata

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

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