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Artemisia frigida
Artemisia frigida Willd.
Prairie Sagewort, Prairie Sagebrush, Fringed Sage, Pasture Sage
Asteraceae (Aster Family)
Synonym(s):
USDA Symbol: ARFR4
USDA Native Status: L48 (N), AK (N), CAN (N)
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
Plant Characteristics
Duration: PerennialHabit: Subshrub
Root Type: Tap
Leaf Retention: Deciduous
Size Notes: Up to about 18 inches tall.
Leaf: Gray-Green
Fruit: Fruit is a cypsela (pl. cypselae). Though technically incorrect, the fruit is often referred to as an achene.
Bloom Information
Bloom Color: YellowBloom 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 , WYCanada: AB , BC , MB , NB , NS , NT , ON , PE , QC , SK , YT
Native Distribution: AK to e. WA & n. AZ, e. to WI & TX
Native Habitat: Open, high plains; alpine areas
Growing Conditions
Water Use: LowLight Requirement: Sun
Soil Moisture: Dry
CaCO3 Tolerance: High
Drought 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 BeesProvides 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.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:Native Seed Network - Corvallis, OR
Bibliography
Bibref 946 - Gardening with Prairie Plants: How to Create Beautiful Native Landscapes (2002) Wasowski, SallySearch 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 23 - Southwest Environmental Information Network (2009) SEINet - Arizona Chapter
From the Archive
Wildflower Newsletter 1990 VOL. 7, NO.4 - Research Update, Wild-Collecting Endangers Natives, Director's Report, Maryland ...Additional resources
USDA: Find Artemisia frigida in USDA PlantsFNA: Find Artemisia frigida in the Flora of North America (if available)
Google: Search Google for Artemisia frigida
Metadata
Record Modified: 2022-11-22Research By: TWC Staff