wormwoods and sagebrushes (Artemisia) — identification, habitat & look-alikes

Artemisia is a group of herbs and shrubs that includes the sagebrushes of the American West, along with mugworts, wormwoods, and sweet Annie. Many species have aromatic gray-green leaves and tiny flowers.

In this group

big sagebrushArtemisia tridentata

This widespread western shrub usually has gray-green leaves with three small teeth at the tip and tiny fall flowers.

California sagebrushArtemisia californica

This aromatic shrub is characteristic of coastal sage scrub in California and has much narrower leaves than big sagebrush.

silver wormwoodArtemisia ludoviciana

This native herb grows across much of western and central North America and has pale, woolly foliage rather than a woody sagebrush crown.

mugwortArtemisia vulgaris

This spreading herb is invasive in Maryland and has deeply cut, strongly scented leaves with pale undersides.

Appearance

Growth form: The genus includes annuals, biennials, herbaceous perennials, , and woody shrubs.
Flowers: Most species have very small, flower heads arranged in spikes or branched clusters. Close species can be difficult to separate from a single photo because leaf shape and hairiness vary.
How to recognize it: Look for alternate leaves that are often divided, gray or silver hairs, and a noticeable scent when the foliage is rubbed. The flower heads are usually tiny and lack the showy seen on many other members of the daisy family.

Look-alikes

ragweedsAmbrosia

Common ragweed has more deeply cut leaves and lacks the silvery-white underside of mugwort (Artemisia vulgaris). The two can be hard to tell from a single young-leaf photo.

Why they get mixed upBoth have cut leaves and inconspicuous flowers.

Where it lives

Typical habitats: western
coastal scrub
prairies and open woods
roadsides and disturbed ground
Range: Artemisia occurs widely in temperate regions, with especially high diversity in Eurasia and western North America. In the United States, native sagebrushes dominate large dry landscapes in the West, while other species grow as herbs across prairies, coasts, and mountains.
Preferred conditions: Many western sagebrushes are adapted to dry or seasonally dry sites, but the genus also includes species of meadows, stream edges, and disturbed soil.

Name and classification

About the name: Despite the name, sagebrush is not a true sage (Salvia). The name reflects a similar aroma: sagebrush belongs to the daisy family, and true sages to the mint family.
Group name: In North America, “sagebrush” names are common among woody western species, while “mugwort” and “wormwood” name several other members of the genus.
Number of species: Recent broad treatments recognize more than 500 species worldwide. Exact totals vary because the limits of Artemisia and several closely related groups have changed among classifications.

Culture and stories

Culture and stories: Big sagebrush gives its name to sagebrush steppe.

23 sources