White Sage Artemisia ludoviciana
Other Common Name(s):
- 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.
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- 'Silver King'
Less weedy
- 'Silver King'
- 'Silver King'
- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- 'Silver King'
Less weedy
- 'Silver King'
- 'Silver King'
- Tags:
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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.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Herbaceous Perennial
- Native Plant
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Habit/Form:
- Clumping
- Erect
- Oval
- Pyramidal
- Spreading
- Growth Rate:
- Medium
- Texture:
- Fine
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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
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Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Brown/Copper
- White
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Summer
- Fruit Type:
- Achene
- Fruit Description:
- Dry, brown achene fruits.
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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.
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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.
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Stem:
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
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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
