California Sagebrush

Scientific Name:

Artemisia californica

Physical Appearance:

• Branches from base and grows out in a rounded shape

• Size varies from a foot to eight feet tall

• The leaves are light muted green, flexible, and thin but vary in texture, some are slick while others feel like a teddy bear

• Flowers vary from creamy whites to muted yellows

When Does It Grow:

• Spring and fall

• Summer Deciduous

Preferred Environment:

• Slopes and flats aka resident of the chaparral

Medicinal Uses:

• Native Americans used leaves for pain relief from tooth aches and wounds

• Used to treat asthma

• Ease childbirth

• Detox of the system (like your own herbal juice cleanse)  

Role in the Ecosystem:

• Drought tolerant! How? By having a shallow root system that is able to absorb a lot of water and take advantage of early rain seasons

Random:

• Luiseno Native Americans were said to burn the sagebrush ceremonially before hunting

• It has compounds within the leaves that help prohibit the growth of plants in its surrounding area… this means less plants to fight for resources with :)