Common Name: Sage Brush

General Information

Artemisia tridentata is an evergreen shrub usually growing 40 - 200cm tall, occasionally to 300cm[]. It has a somewhat spreading canopy and can occasionally become rather tree-like,reaching a height of around 5 metres[].
The plant had a wide range of uses for the Native N. American people, and it is still used medicinally, and also sometimes as a food and source of materials. It can be used in soil reclamation and stabilization projects..

Known Hazards

Many members of this genus contain contain potentially allergenic sesquiterpene lactones that can cause skin reactions. Although this species has been found to contain them, there have been no reports that it has caused dermatitis[].

Botanical References

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Range

Western N. America - British Columbia to Alberta, south to California, Baja California and New Mexico

Habitat

Dry plains and hills on calcareous soils[]. Deep, well-drained (usually sandy or rocky) soils in valley bottoms, lower montane slopes, montane meadows, along drainages; at elevations from 300 - 2,800 metres[]

Properties

Edibility Rating
Medicinal Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Evergreen Shrub
Height	2.50 m
Pollinators	Wind, Self
Self-fertile	Yes
Cultivation Status	Wild

Cultivation Details

Artemisia tridentata is a plant of semi-arid areas and is only hardy in the milder areas of the temperate zone, where it tolerates temperatures down to between -5 and -10°c[]. The young growth in spring, even on mature plants, is frost-tender and so it is best to grow the plants in a position sheltered from the early morning sun[]. The plant grows in areas where the mean annual rainfall is within the range 250 - 460mm a year[].
Requires a sunny position and a well-drained soil that is not too rich[, ]. Requires a lime-free soil[]. Found on slightly acid and on alkaline soils[]. There are a number of sub-species growing in different habitats from deep fertile soils to poor shallow ones[]. Plants are longer lived, more hardy and more aromatic when they are grown in a poor dry soil[]. Established plants are very drought tolerant[].
The plant is very aromatic, especially after rain[, ]. Volatile resins in the plants are strongly aromatic and, when crushed, the leaves of different subspecies have their own, very distinctive (although not easily described) aromas[].
Unlike many other Artemisias, this species cannot resprout from the base if the top-growth is killed in a fire. The plant depends entirely upon seed germination to recolonize burnt-over areas[].
The pollen of this species is one of the main causes of hayfever in N. America[].
Plants only 2 - 3 years old are capable of producing mature seed[].
Plants in this genus are notably resistant to honey fungus[].
Members of this genus are rarely if ever troubled by browsing deer[].

Edible Uses

Leaves - cooked[]. The subspecies Artemisia tridentata vaseyana has a pleasant mint-like aroma whilst some other subspecies are very bitter and pungent[]. The leaves are used as a condiment and to make a tea[].

Seed - raw or cooked. Oily[, ]. It can be roasted then ground into a powder and mixed with water or eaten raw[, , , ]. The seed is very small and fiddly to use[].

Medicinal

Sagebrush was widely employed by many native North American Indian tribes who used it to treat a wide range of disorders[]. It is little used in modern herbalism, though it certainly merits further investigation[].

The plant is antirheumatic, antiseptic, digestive, disinfectant, febrifuge, ophthalmic, poultice and sedative[, , , ]. A decoction of the leaves is used in the treatment of digestive disorders and sore throats[, ]. An infusion of the fresh or dried leaves is used to treat pneumonia, bad colds with coughing and bronchitis[].
It is used both internally and externally in the treatment of rheumatism[].
The crushed plant is used as a liniment on cuts, sores etc whilst a decoction of the leaves is used as an antiseptic wash for cuts, wounds and sores[]. A poultice of the steeped leaves is applied to sore eyes[].
The plant is burnt in the house in order to disinfect it[].

Agroforestry Uses:

Sagebrush shows high potential for range restoration and soil stabilization. It grows rapidly and spreads readily from seed, which can be broadcast or drilled[].
Transplant stock can also be used in rehabilitation projects. Seedlings are easily transplanted and may be used to stabilize gullies and eroded hillsides. Transplants reproduce and begin to spread from seed in 3 to 7 years[]..
Sagebrush species are associated with mycorrhizal fungus in the genus Glomus. The presence of these fungi may be required for the successful establishment of seedlings. Areas that lose their sagebrush cover due to frequent fire and are dominated subsequently by nonmycorrhizal cheatgrass may no longer have the fungi in the soil. Sagebrush reestablishment may be inhibited on these sites[].

Other Uses

An infusion of the leaves is used as a hair rinse, it treats dandruff and falling hair[, , ].

An infusion of the plant repels insects[], it is also disinfectant and so is used for washing walls, floors etc[].

A yellow to gold dye is obtained from the leaves, buds and stems combined[].

The fibrous bark is used for weaving mats, baskets, cloth etc., or as a stuffing material in pillows etc and as an insulation in shoes to keep the feet warm[, ].
A fibre obtained from the inner bark is used for making paper[]. The fibres are about 1.3mm long[]. The stems are harvested in late summer, the leaves removed and the stems steamed until the fibre can be stripped off. The fibre is then cooked for two hours with lye before being ball milled for 4 hours. The resulting paper is a light tan/gold colour[].

A bunch of the leafy stems can be tied together and used as a broom[].

The shredded bark is a fine tinder for starting fires[, ].
The stems make good friction sticks for making fires[].

The seeds are used during celebrations because, when thrown into a fire, they explode like crackers[].

Wood - hard, dense[]. Too small for most purposes, but it makes a good fuel, burning rapidly and well, even when green, and has a pleasant aromatic smell[].

Propagation

Seed - surface sow from late winter to early summer in a greenhouse in a very free-draining soil, but making sure that the compost does not dry out. The sub-species A. tridentata vaseyana germinates better if given a cool stratification for 30 - 50 days. Other sub-species germinate in 1 - 2 weeks in a warm greenhouse[]. When large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and grow them on in the greenhouse for their first winter, planting them out in late spring or early summer.
Cuttings of half-ripe wood, mid summer in a frame. Very slow to root[]
Division in spring or autumn.
Layering[].