big sagebrush Asteraceae Artemisia tridentata Nutt. symbol: ARTR2 Leaf: Simple, alternate (but typically clustered at each node), persistent (but some leaves are drought deciduous). Small (1/2 to 2 inches long) and narrowly wedge-shaped with a 3-lobed apex; silvery-green and pubescent on both surfaces; strong scented; sessile. Flower: Species is monoecious; flowers very small, yellowish, and tubular; borne in small heads on long, upright spikes; some flowers perfect and some imperfect. Fruit: Very small achenes; 4 or 5-sided or ribbed Twig: Young twigs are slender, silvery-gray, and pubescent, becoming grayish brown as they age. Bark: Grayish brown, shreddy, and splitting lengthwise. Form: An upright, evergreen shrub commonly growing from several to 15 feet tall. Looks like: bitterbrush - Stansbury cliffrose - Apache plume Additional Range Information: Artemisia tridentata is native to North America. Range may be expanded by planting. See states reporting big sagebrush. External Links: USDAFS Additional Silvics USDA Plants Database © Copyright 2016, Virginia Tech Dept. of Forest Resources and Environmental Conservation, all rights reserved. Photos and text by: John Seiler, Edward Jensen, Alex Niemiera, and John Peterson