Artemisia californica brings a warm fragrance to the garden whenever the sun shines
on the gray foliage. The California Sagebrush foliage brings a soft texture to the
landscape. Artemisia californica is a major component of the Coastal Sage Scrub
plant community that is increasingly being replaced by houses. Making pockets of
native plants brings in the birds. They are attracted to the plants they recognize.
Artemisia californica grows four feet tall and wide. In the wild, fire makes these
plants start over fairly frequently. In the landscape periodic hard pruning can accomplish
the same effect. I periodically cut back a few of the branches to near the base so the
California Sagebrush plants are constantly regenerating. The selected variety Artemisia
californica Canyon Gray grows as a trailing groundcover. Artemisia californica is Winter
hardy into the low 20's.
High resolution images of Artemisia californica are available
