Common Name: Prairie Sage

General Information

Artemisia ludoviciana is a herbaceous, perennial plant usually growing 20 - 80cm tall. The plant generally produces a few to several, usually unbranched stems from a rhizomatous rootstock[, ]. Some forms of this plant are strongly rhizomatous and can form colonies up to 15 metres in diameter[].
The plant has a wide range of uses and was widely employed by the native North Americans as a food, medicine and incense, though is less used at present. The plant is grown as an ornamental in gardens, where it can make a good ground cover, and is also used in soil stabiization and reclamation 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

, ,

Range

Western N. America - Michigan to Washington, south to Texas and Mexico.

Habitat

Prairies, dry open soils and thin woodland[]. Disturbed roadsides, open meadows, rocky slopes; at elevations from 100 - 3,000 metres[].

Properties

Edibility Rating
Medicinal Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Perennial
Height	1.00 m
Pollinators	Wind, Self
Self-fertile	Yes
Cultivation Status	Ornamental, Wild

Cultivation Details

Easily grown in a well-drained circumneutral or slightly alkaline loamy soil, preferring a sunny position[, ]. Does well in sandy, gravelly and stony soils[, ]. Plants can tolerate soils with a high pH[]. Established plants are very drought tolerant[]. Plants are longer lived, more hardy and more aromatic when they are grown in a poor dry soil[].
A very polymorphic species[].
Slugs love the young shoots of this plant and have been known to destroy even well-established plants[].
A very ornamental plant, spreading by stolons to form loose patches[], it can be invasive[]. There are many named forms selected for their ornamental value[].
Members of this genus are rarely if ever troubled by browsing deer[].

Edible Uses

Leaves and flowering heads are used as a flavouring or garnish for sauces, gravies etc[].

A herb tea is made from the leaves and flowering heads[].

Seed[, , , ]. No further details are given but the seed is very small and fiddly to use.

Medicinal

The leaves and flowering stems are astringent, emmenagogue, stimulant and vermifuge[, , ]. They were commonly used by the N. American Indians to induce sweating, curb pain and diarrhoea[]. A weak tea was used in the treatment of stomach ache, coughs, colds, headaches and menstrual disorders[, , ]. The leaves can be chewed to treat sore throats[, , ].
Externally, a wash of the leaves has been used as a bath to treat fevers and applied topically to ease conditions such as itching, rashes, swellings, boils, sores, etc[, ]. The wash was also applied to eczema and as an underarm deodorant[]. An infusion of the leaves has been used as an eyewash[]. A poultice of the leaves can be applied to spider bites, blisters and burst boils[]. The powdered leaves can be applied to the nostrils to stop nose bleeds, sprinkled on sores they will hasten the healing process[].
The crushed plant can be rubbed on the body as a liniment to treat rheumatic joints, soreness or stiffness[].
A snuff of the crushed leaves has been used to treat headaches, the sinuses and nosebleeds[].
The plant can be placed in the shoes to keep the feet from sweating[].

An essential oil extracted from the plant has been demonstrated to give symptomatic relief of diarrhea[].
Extracts of prairie sage have antifungal properties[].

Agroforestry Uses:

The plant makes a useful ground cover plant in gardens once it is established[].
Prairie sage establishes well from cuttings, transplants, and direct seeding. It is recommended for revegetating riparian areas in forest, mountain brush, sagebrush, and desert shrub communities, and is considered useful for revegetating roadcuts and for erosion control. The dense root mass is good for reducing erosion and encourages other species to invade the stabilized space. Plants can grow 1 metre tall by the end of summer after spring transplanting[].

Other Uses

The leaves can be placed in the shoes as a foot deodorant[]. An infusion of the leaves has been used as an underarm deodorant[].

The soft leaves can be used as a toilet paper[].
Bunches of the plants have been used as towels[].

The plant can be burnt as an incense and also to repel mosquitoes[].

Propagation

Seed - surface sow from late winter to early summer in a greenhouse, making sure that the compost does not dry out[]. When large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and grow them on in the greenhouse for their first winter. Plant out in late spring or early summer.
Division in spring or autumn[].
Basal cuttings in late spring. Harvest the young shoots when about 10 - 15cm long, pot up in a lightly shaded position in a greenhouse or cold frame and plant them out when well rooted. Very easy.
Cuttings of half-ripe wood, mid summer in a frame.