Sage (11)
Sages, the Artemesia genus, are also called Wormwood and Sagewort, and include both small, herbaceous plants and larger shrubs, Sagebrush, shown on a separate page. They all have tiny, inconspicuous flower heads crowded along the stem and most are pleasantly aromatic when the leaves are crushed.
Boreal Sagewort
Artemisia borealis (Artemisia campestris ssp. borealis)
Family:
Sunflower (Asteraceae)
AKA:
Northern Sagewort
Photo taken on:
July 16, 2019
Location:
Cumberland Pass, GV, CO
Life Zones:
Alpine
Habitat:
Gravelly slopes, tundra
Grows to 12" in clumps with reddish, downy stems. Leaves are basal, finely dissected, grayish and silky. Small reddish flowers grow in a spike.
Flora of North America reference.
Field Sagewort
Artemisia campestris ssp. caudata
Family:
Sunflower (Asteraceae)
AKA:
Field Wormwood, Sand Wormwood
Photo taken on:
September 20, 2014
Location:
Abiquiu, NM
Life Zones:
Plains to montane
Habitat:
Dry, open areas, roadsides
Grows to 30" with reddish stems and narrowly divided,
feathery leaves compared to
Wild Tarragon. Basal leaves are withered by the time
of flowering. Tiny flowers are yellow. 
Field Sagewort
Artemisia campestris ssp. caudata
Photo taken on:
August 12, 2015
Location:
White Rock , NM
These plants have galls created as defense to the Wooly Bud Gall Midge, Rhopalomyia medusirrasa. The Wooly Bud Gall Midge induces globular, leafy, pubescent galls. The large, polythalamous (many chambered) galls are actually composed of numerous leaf-like structures covered in long, forked white hairs.
Flora of North America reference.
Pacific Wormwood
Artemisia campestris ssp. pacifica
Family:
Sunflower (Asteraceae)
AKA:
Field Wormwood, Western Wormwood
Photo taken on:
October 7, 2018
Location:
Wet Mountains, Eastern CO
Life Zones:
Plains to montane
Habitat:
Dry, open areas, roadsides
Grows 12" to 40" with narrowly divided, feathery leaves which do not wither by the time of flowering. Tiny flowers are yellow.
Flora of North America reference.
Carruth's Wormwood
Artemisia carruthii
Family:
Sunflower (Asteraceae)
AKA:
Carruth's Sagewort
Photo taken on:
September 1, 2009
Location:
Quemazon, Los Alamos, NM
Life Zones:
Plains to foothills
Habitat:
Dry, open areas, old fields
Grows to 2ft with silvery, very narrow leaves on the stems. Compare to Fringed Sage.
Flora of North America reference.
Wild Tarragon
Artemisia dracunculus
Family:
Sunflower (Asteraceae)
AKA:
False Tarragon
Photo taken on:
August 18, 2007
Location:
Walrod Gulch, GV, CO
Life Zones:
Plains to montane
Habitat:
Roadsides, meadows
Grows to 30" in clumps with tiny yellow or greenish flowers. Leaves are green, long and narrow and taste of tarragon.
Flora of North America reference.
Ragweed Sagebrush
Artemisia franserioides
Family:
Sunflower (Asteraceae)
AKA:
Bursage Mugwort
Photo taken on:
August 24, 2021
Location:
Pioneer Trail, GV, CO
Life Zones:
Montane
Habitat:
Conifer forests
Grows arching to 3 feet high with reddish stems. The yellow flowers are tiny and nodding. The soft, aromatic, finely lobed leaves distinguish this plant.
Flora of North America reference.
Fringed Sage
Artemisia frigida
Family:
Sunflower (Asteraceae)
AKA:
Prairie Sagewort, Silver Sage, Estafiata
Photo taken on:
August 8, 2005
Location:
Almont, CO
Life Zones:
Plains to subalpine
Habitat:
Dry meadows and slopes
Grows to 12" often with the larger shrub Sagebrush. The flowers are tiny and nodding. The finely-cut leaves distinguish this plant.
Flora of North America reference.
Parry's Wormwood
Artemisia laciniata subsp. parryi
Family:
Sunflower (Asteraceae)
AKA:
Photo taken on:
August 11, 2007
Location:
Rustler Gulch, GV, CO
Life Zones:
Montane to alpine
Habitat:
Rocky soils, along trails
Grows to 16" with drooping flower heads, which are not hairy. Leaves are silvery, silky hairy and deeply lobed.
Flora of North America reference.
Prairie Sage
Artemisia ludoviciana
Family:
Sunflower (Asteraceae)
AKA:
White Sage, Sagewort, Silver Wormwood
Photo taken on:
August 7, 2005
Location:
Oh-Be-Joyful, GV, CO
Life Zones:
Plains to subalpine
Habitat:
Dry meadows and slopes
Grows from 1 to 3ft tall, often in large colonies. Leaves are silvery, long and narrow. Nodding flowers have grayish bracts and appear reddish before turning yellow.
Flora of North America reference.
Michaux's Wormwood
Artemisia michauxiana
Family:
Sunflower (Asteraceae)
AKA:
Michaux's Sagewort, Lemon Sagewort
Photo taken on:
August 12, 2007
Location:
Rustler Gulch, GV, CO
Life Zones:
Subalpine to alpine
Habitat:
Trail sides, rocky areas
Grows to 2 feet in clumps with mostly stem leaves. Leaves are bright green and smell lemony.
Flora of North America reference.
Rocky Mountain Sagewort
Artemisia scopulorum
Family:
Sunflower (Asteraceae)
AKA:
Alpine Sagewort, Dwarf Sagewort
Photo taken on:
July 14, 2007
Location:
Scarp Ridge, GV, CO
Life Zones:
Subalpine to alpine
Habitat:
Tundra, along trails
Grows to 8" with a hairy, reddish stem. Leaves are mostly basal and divided into narrow silvery segments. Bracts are hairy and have dark margins.
Flora of North America reference.
Yellow Long Clusters | Green & Brown Flowers | Red & Orange Flowers