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California Sagebrush

Artemisia californica

true

1 gallon; 3 gallon

California Sagebrush

In stock

4x8

Sizes:

California Sagebrush – Artemisia californica

California Sagebrush is an aromatic evergreen shrub with fine, threadlike silvery-green foliage, typically growing three to four feet tall and wide. Native to much of central and southern California, it reaches its easternmost natural populations at the edges of the Colorado Desert, including the Whitewater Preserve and Mission Creek. In these transition zones, it thrives on rocky slopes, sandy washes, and alluvial fans, particularly where coastal influences bring slightly cooler microclimates.

Though extremely drought-tolerant in its natural range, California Sagebrush requires supplemental irrigation in the low desert if you want it to maintain a landscape-quality appearance. It will often die back by late summer heat, but it recovers quickly once temperatures cool down.

Its delicate texture and silvery color make it a striking accent in wildlife and pollinator gardens, especially when combined with native buckwheats (Eriogonum spp.), desert sages (Salvia spp.), and milkweeds (Asclepias spp.).

While its showiness is subtle compared to more colorful bloomers, California Sagebrush is an ecological keystone in the habitats where it naturally occurs. It supports a variety of insects, birds, and mammals. Because it's at the eastern edge of its range locally, its wildlife associations here are less diverse than in coastal scrub, but it still plays an important role in habitat gardens and restoration plantings.

Wildlife Value

Host Plant: No specialist Lepidoptera documented locally; may support generalist moth larvae.
Nectar Source: Tiny, inconspicuous flowers are occasionally used by native bees and other small pollinators.
Bird Resources: Caterpillars; Seeds; Nesting cover; Winter buds, especially valuable during lean seasons.
Bird Species: Black-throated Sparrow (Amphispiza bilineata). California Quail (Callipepla californica) may use it where ranges overlap, but Gambel’s Quail (Callipepla gambelii) have no confirmed association locally.

Plant Care

Native region:

Local Native; Mojave Desert

Water needs:

Low

Exposure:

Filtered Shade

Mature size:

4x8

Growth rate:

Fast

Flower color:

White; Cream; Yellow

Flower season:

Spring; Summer; Fall

Pruning:

None required. May prune to keep compact

Cold Hardiness:

20 Degrees

Nectar-producing:

Yes

Attracts pollinators:

Yes

Nighttime pollinators:

Butterflies or Moths:

Yes

Monarchs:

Larval host:

Yes

Bees:

Bats:

Birds:

Yes

Nest site:

Yes

Nest materials:

Yes

Rabbit-resistant:

Yes

Tortoises:

Growing Plants in the Desert — Important Information

The information presented here is, to the best of my knowledge, accurate and based on reliable research, personal experience in my own garden, observations from other gardens I’ve visited, and time spent studying plants in their native habitats. I always welcome your feedback and experiences to help me continue educating others!

Cacti:
In my experience, cacti are much happier in filtered shade here in the low desert of the Coachella Valley. Their colors are more vibrant and they tend to bloom more profusely, especially the non-native varieties. If you look closely at how our native barrel cactus and beavertail prickly pear grow in the wild, you’ll often find them tucked among rocks or beneath the shelter of creosote and other shrubs.

⚠️ A note of caution: Cacti and succulents are often illegally collected from the wild, which not only damages plant populations but also disturbs entire ecosystems. In some cases, wild populations of cacti have even gone extinct because of this practice. When purchasing these plants, always be sure they’ve been legally obtained. Look for nursery-grown stock or plants with a native plant certification, and keep that documentation for your records.

Light Requirements:
In our desert (Sonoran/Colorado), “full sun” doesn’t always mean what you might think. Many so-called full-sun plants benefit from and actually appreciate some late-afternoon filtered light—especially during the intense summer months.