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Artemisia ludoviciana

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

White sage is a rhizomatous erect spreading-clumping herbaceous perennial in the Asteraceae family. This plant grows in poor to moderately fertile, dry to medium moisture, well-drained soils in full sun. Excellent soil drainage is essential for growing this plant well.  Propagate by division in late summer or early fall. This species is native (but very rare) in North Carolina.

Plant Name & Tips: The silver color gives the plant its common name.  This makes a striking accent plant for green-leaved plants. 

Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: No serious insect problems but can suffer root rot in moist or poorly drained soils. In summer, foliage declines and stems may flop over and become unsightly. 

Propagation: This plant spreads by rhizomes and/or self-seeding and can become weedy.  It can spread so consider using soil barriers in areas you do not wish it to naturalize. It propagates by division in late summer to early autumn. 'Silver King' appears to spread less aggressively.

More information on Artemisia.

See this plant in the following landscape:
Cultivars / Varieties:
  • 'Silver King'
    Less weedy
'Silver King'
Tags:
#fragrant#full sun tolerant#drought tolerant#gray leaves#silver leaves#yellow flowers#fragrant leaves#cover plant#rabbit resistant#erosion control#small mammals#NC native#buffer#summer flowers#deer resistant#blue-green leaves#contrast#children's garden#playground plant#naturalizes#self-seeding#edible leaves#poor soils tolerant#dry soils tolerant#dense growth#perennial
 
Cultivars / Varieties:
  • 'Silver King'
    Less weedy
'Silver King'
Tags:
#fragrant#full sun tolerant#drought tolerant#gray leaves#silver leaves#yellow flowers#fragrant leaves#cover plant#rabbit resistant#erosion control#small mammals#NC native#buffer#summer flowers#deer resistant#blue-green leaves#contrast#children's garden#playground plant#naturalizes#self-seeding#edible leaves#poor soils tolerant#dry soils tolerant#dense growth#perennial
  • Attributes:
    Genus:
    Artemisia
    Species:
    ludoviciana
    Family:
    Asteraceae
    Uses (Ethnobotany):
    Native Americans would use this plant to make smudge sticks which they believed would worn off bad influences and sickness when ignited.
    Life Cycle:
    Perennial
    Recommended Propagation Strategy:
    Division
    Seed
    Country Or Region Of Origin:
    North America
    Wildlife Value:
    This plant tolerates damage by rabbit and deer.
    Play Value:
    Buffer
    Fragrance
    Textural
    Wildlife Cover/Habitat
    Wildlife Food Source
    Wind Break
    Particularly Resistant To (Insects/Diseases/Other Problems):
    Dry or poor soils, rabbit damage, deer damage, erosion
    Dimensions:
    Height: 2 ft. 0 in. - 3 ft. 0 in.
    Width: 2 ft. 0 in. - 3 ft. 0 in.
  • Whole Plant Traits:
    Plant Type:
    Herbaceous Perennial
    Native Plant
    Perennial
    Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
    Deciduous
    Habit/Form:
    Clumping
    Erect
    Oval
    Pyramidal
    Spreading
    Growth Rate:
    Medium
    Texture:
    Fine
  • Cultural Conditions:
    Light:
    Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
    Soil Drainage:
    Good Drainage
    Moist
    Occasionally Dry
    Occasionally Wet
    Very Dry
    Available Space To Plant:
    12 inches-3 feet
    USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
    4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b, 10a, 10b
  • Fruit:
    Fruit Color:
    Brown/Copper
    White
    Display/Harvest Time:
    Summer
    Fruit Type:
    Achene
    Fruit Description:
    Dry, brown achene fruits.
  • Flowers:
    Flower Color:
    Gold/Yellow
    Gray/Silver
    White
    Flower Inflorescence:
    Insignificant
    Panicle
    Flower Bloom Time:
    Spring
    Summer
    Flower Description:
    The blooms are yellowish gray discoid flower heads (no rays) with little ornamental value. They appear in dense panicles August to September.
  • Leaves:
    Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
    Deciduous
    Leaf Color:
    Gray/Silver
    Green
    Leaf Feel:
    Soft
    Leaf Value To Gardener:
    Edible
    Fragrant
    Long-lasting
    Showy
    Deciduous Leaf Fall Color:
    Gray/Silver
    Leaf Arrangement:
    Alternate
    Leaf Shape:
    Lanceolate
    Hairs Present:
    Yes
    Leaf Length:
    3-6 inches
    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.
  • Stem:
    Stem Is Aromatic:
    No
  • Landscape:
    Landscape Location:
    Recreational Play Area
    Landscape Theme:
    Children's Garden
    Edible Garden
    Native Garden
    Attracts:
    Small Mammals
    Resistance To Challenges:
    Deer
    Drought
    Dry Soil
    Erosion
    Poor Soil
    Rabbits
    Wet Soil
    Problems:
    Weedy