• Photo of Artemisia ludoviciana (Artemisia ludovicianas)

Plant Profile: Artemisia ludoviciana

Taxonomy: Artemisia ludoviciana

Names

Western Mugwort, White Sage, White Sagebrush

  • Photo of Artemisia ludoviciana (Artemisia ludovicianas)

Phonetic Spelling:ar-te-MIZ-i-a loo-doh-vik-ee-AH-nuh

Genus:Artemisia

Species:ludoviciana

Family:Asteraceae

White sage is a clumping, upright perennial herb belonging to the Asteraceae family. It thrives in well-drained soils that range from poor to moderately fertile and prefer full sunlight, with moisture levels from dry to medium. For optimal growth, ensuring excellent drainage is crucial. This plant can be propagated through division during late summer or early fall.

**Plant Characteristics and Care Tips:** The plant's distinctive silver hue is the reason behind its common name, making it an eye-catching addition alongside green-leaved varieties.

**Pests, Diseases, and Other Issues:** While white sage is generally resilient against pests, it is susceptible to root rot if planted in overly moist or poorly drained conditions. During the summer months, the foliage may deteriorate, causing the stems to droop and lose their aesthetic appeal.

**Propagation Details:** White sage can spread through rhizomes and self-seeding, which may lead to it becoming invasive. To prevent unwanted naturalization, consider implementing soil barriers in areas where you want to control its spread. Division is recommended for propagation in late summer to early autumn, and the 'Silver King' variety tends to be less aggressive in its growth.

For further details on Artemisia, additional resources are available.

Artemisia ludoviciana Feature Summary

Artemisia ludoviciana Image Gallery

Tags

#fragrant
#yellow
#full sun tolerant
#drought tolerant
#perennial
#gray leaves
#silver leaves
#yellow flowers
#fragrant leaves
#cover plant
#rabbit resistant
#playground
#erosion control
#small mammals
#buffer
#summer flowers
#deer resistant
#blue-green leaves
#dense
#contrast
#children's garden
#naturalizes
#self-seeding
#edible leaves
#poor soils tolerant
#dry soils tolerant

Similar Plants

Artemisia ludoviciana Feature Summary

Attributes
Native Americans would use this plant to make smudge sticks which they believed would worn off bad influences and sickness when ignited.
This plant tolerates damage by rabbit and deer.
Dry or poor soils, rabbit damage, deer damage, erosion
Perennial
Fragrance
Wildlife Food Source
Wind Break
Textural
Wildlife Cover/Habitat
Buffer
Fruit
Dry, brown achene fruits.
Brown/Copper
White
Flowers
The blooms are yellowish gray discoid flower heads (no rays) with little ornamental value. They appear in dense panicles August to September.
White
Gold/Yellow
Gray/Silver
Insignificant
Panicle
Spring
Summer
Leaves
The leaves lance shaped (2-4" long) and are a striking silvery-green and fragrant. The silver color gives the plant its common name.
Green
Gray/Silver
Lanceolate
3-6 inches
Edible
Fragrant
Showy
Long-lasting
Whole Plant Traits
Perennial
Herbaceous Perennial
Native Plant
Erect
Pyramidal
Spreading
Clumping
Oval
Cultural Conditions
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
Good Drainage
Moist
Occasionally Wet
Occasionally Dry
Very Dry
4a
4b
5b
5a
6a
6b
7a
7b
8b
8a
9a
9b
10a
10b
Landscape
Edible Garden
Children's Garden
Drought
Deer
Wet Soil
Rabbits
Dry Soil
Erosion
Poor Soil
Recreational Play Area
Small Mammals

Artemisia ludoviciana Attributes

Artemisia ludoviciana: Uses (Ethnobotany)

Native Americans would use this plant to make smudge sticks which they believed would worn off bad influences and sickness when ignited.

Artemisia ludoviciana: Country Or Region Of Origin

North America

Artemisia ludoviciana: Wildlife Value

This plant tolerates damage by rabbit and deer.

Artemisia ludoviciana: Particularly Resistant To (Insects/Diseases/Other Problems)

Dry or poor soils, rabbit damage, deer damage, erosion

Artemisia ludoviciana: Life Cycle

Annual
Biennial
Bulb
Perennial
Woody

Artemisia ludoviciana: Recommended Propagation Strategy

Division
Grafting
Layering
Leaf Cutting
Root Cutting
Seed
Stem Cutting

Artemisia ludoviciana: Play Value

Attractive Flowers
Attracts Pollinators
Buffer
Colorful
Defines Paths
Easy to Grow
Edible fruit
Fragrance
Pieces Used in Games
Screening
Shade
Sound
Textural
Wildlife Cover/Habitat
Wildlife Food Source
Wildlife Larval Host
Wildlife Nesting
Wind Break
Wind Shimmer

Artemisia ludoviciana Fruit

Artemisia ludoviciana: Fruit Description

Dry, brown achene fruits.

Artemisia ludoviciana: Fruit Type

Achene
Aggregate
Berry
Capsule
Caryopsis
Drupe
Follicle
Legume
Nut
Pome
Samara
Schizocarp
Siliqua

Artemisia ludoviciana: Fruit Color

grass
Brown/Copper
grass
White

Artemisia ludoviciana: Display/Harvest Time

Fall
Spring
Summer
Winter

Artemisia ludoviciana Flowers

Artemisia ludoviciana: Flower Description

The blooms are yellowish gray discoid flower heads (no rays) with little ornamental value. They appear in dense panicles August to September.

Artemisia ludoviciana: Flower Color

filter_vintage
Gold/Yellow
filter_vintage
Gray/Silver
filter_vintage
White

Artemisia ludoviciana: Flower Inflorescence

Catkin
Corymb
Cyme
Head
Insignificant
Panicle
Raceme
Solitary
Spadix
Spike
Umbel

Artemisia ludoviciana: Flower Bloom Time

Winter
Spring
Summer
Fall

Artemisia ludoviciana Leaves

Artemisia ludoviciana: Leaf Description

The leaves lance shaped (2-4" long) and are a striking silvery-green and fragrant. The silver color gives the plant its common name.

Artemisia ludoviciana: Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics

Broadleaf Evergreen
Deciduous
Needled Evergreen
Semi-evergreen

Artemisia ludoviciana: Leaf Color

spa
Gray/Silver
spa
Green

Artemisia ludoviciana: Deciduous Leaf Fall Color

spa
Gray/Silver

Artemisia ludoviciana: Leaf Arrangement

Alternate
Opposite
Other/more complex
Rosulate
Whorled

Artemisia ludoviciana: Leaf Shape

Acicular
Auriculate
Cordate
Cuneate
Deltoid
Elliptical
Filiform
Lanceolate
Linear
Oblanceolate
Oblong
Obovate
Obtuse
Orbicular
Ovate
Palmasect
Palmatifid
Peltate
Pinnatifid
Pinnatisect
Reniform
Rhomboidal
Spatulate
Subcordate
Subulate

Artemisia ludoviciana: Hairs Present

No
Yes

Artemisia ludoviciana: Leaf Length

< 1 inch
1-3 inches
3-6 inches
> 6 inches

Artemisia ludoviciana: Leaf Feel

Fleshy
Glossy
Leathery
Papery
Prickly
Rough
Rubbery
Slippery
Smooth
Soft
Velvety
Waxy

Artemisia ludoviciana: Leaf Value To Gardener

Edible
Fragrant
Good Cut
Good Dried
Long-lasting
Showy

Artemisia ludoviciana Whole Plant Traits

Artemisia ludoviciana: Plant Type

Annual
Bulb
Carnivorous
Edible
Epiphyte
Fern
Ground Cover
Herb
Herbaceous Perennial
Houseplant
Mushroom
Native Plant
Ornamental Grasses and Sedges
Perennial
Poisonous
Rose
Shrub
Succulent
Tree
Turfgrass
Vegetable
Vine
Water Plant
Weed
Wildflower

Artemisia ludoviciana: Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics

Broadleaf Evergreen
Deciduous
Needled Evergreen
Semi-evergreen

Artemisia ludoviciana: Habit/Form

Arching
Ascending
Broad
Cascading
Climbing
Clumping
Columnar
Conical
Creeping
Dense
Erect
Horizontal
Irregular
Mounding
Multi-stemmed
Multi-trunked
Open
Oval
Prostrate
Pyramidal
Rounded
Spreading
Vase
Weeping

Artemisia ludoviciana: Growth Rate

Slow
Medium
Rapid

Artemisia ludoviciana: Texture

Fine
Medium
Coarse

Artemisia ludoviciana Cultural Conditions

Artemisia ludoviciana: Light

Dappled Sunlight (Shade through upper canopy all day)
Deep shade (Less than 2 hours to no direct sunlight)
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)

Artemisia ludoviciana: Soil Drainage

Frequent Standing Water
Good Drainage
Moist
Occasional Flooding
Occasionally Dry
Occasionally Wet
Very Dry

Artemisia ludoviciana: Available Space To Plant

12 inches-3 feet
12-24 feet
24-60 feet
3 feet-6 feet
6-feet-12 feet
Less than 12 inches
more than 60 feet

Artemisia ludoviciana: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone

thermostat
10a
thermostat
10b
thermostat
4a
thermostat
4b
thermostat
5a
thermostat
5b
thermostat
6a
thermostat
6b
thermostat
7a
thermostat
7b
thermostat
8a
thermostat
8b
thermostat
9a
thermostat
9b

Artemisia ludoviciana Stem

Artemisia ludoviciana: Stem Is Aromatic

No
Yes

Artemisia ludoviciana Landscape

Artemisia ludoviciana: Landscape Theme

Asian Garden
Butterfly Garden
Children's Garden
Cottage Garden
Cutting Garden
Drought Tolerant Garden
Edible Garden
English Garden
Fairy Garden
Garden for the Blind
Native Garden
Nighttime Garden
Pollinator Garden
Rain Garden
Rock Garden
Shade Garden
Water Garden
Winter Garden

Artemisia ludoviciana: Resistance To Challenges

Black Walnut
Compaction
Deer
Diseases
Drought
Dry Soil
Erosion
Fire
Foot Traffic
Heat
Heavy Shade
Humidity
Insect Pests
Pollution
Poor Soil
Rabbits
Salt
Slugs
Squirrels
Storm damage
Urban Conditions
Voles
Wet Soil
Wind

Artemisia ludoviciana: Landscape Location

Coastal
Container
Hanging Baskets
Houseplants
Lawn
Meadow
Naturalized Area
Near Septic
Patio
Pond
Pool/Hardscape
Recreational Play Area
Riparian
Rock Wall
Slope/Bank
Small Space
Vertical Spaces
Walkways
Woodland

Artemisia ludoviciana: Attracts

Bats
Bees
Butterflies
Frogs
Hummingbirds
Moths
Pollinators
Predatory Insects
Reptiles
Small Mammals
Songbirds
Specialized Bees

Artemisia ludoviciana: Problems

Allelopathic
Contact Dermatitis
Frequent Disease Problems
Frequent Insect Problems
Invasive Species
Malodorous
Messy
Poisonous to Humans
Problem for Cats
Problem for Children
Problem for Dogs
Problem for Horses
Short-lived
Spines/Thorns
Weak Wood
Weedy