Sand Sagebrush
Artemisia filifolia
Last reviewed: September 2026
Sand sagebrush is a low-water shrub with fine, silvery foliage that thrives in sandy soils and open rangeland. It blooms from June through November and its flowers draw bees.
Toxicity unknown
Sand Sagebrush (Artemisia filifolia) is not listed by the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center (opens in new tab) or the other sources we check, so we have no verdict for it either way. Absence from those lists is not a clearance. If your pet shows symptoms after eating any plant, call the ASPCA at (888) 426-4435.
Light
part sun
Water
low
Size
36"–72" H × 36"–72" W
Bloom
Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct, Nov
Native to
AZ, CO, KS, NE and 7 more states
Pollinators
bees
Before you buy
Your city may pay you to plant this
Cities and water utilities offer rebates for replacing lawn with native and water-wise plants. We track 452 programs across 44 states, each with a link to the provider and the date we last checked it.
Find rebates in your areaBrowse plants for this ecoregion
Sand sagebrush is a silvery-gray native shrub that forms a rounded, airy mass in the landscape. It produces inconspicuous flowers from summer through fall and maintains its feathery foliage year-round with minimal water requirements.
Growing Sand Sagebrush
Grow Sand Sagebrush in part sun and low water. Mature plants reach 36 to 72 inches tall and spread 36 to 72 inches wide. Expect low maintenance to keep it looking intentional in a front yard.
In an HOA neighborhood
Sand Sagebrush takes more care to keep looking intentional in a front yard. Maintenance level: low. Consider it for backyard or mid-zone beds rather than the street edge.
Works well in: backyard only.
- Height exceeds typical HOA-friendly range
Wildlife value
This plant provides nectar for native bees during its extended bloom period from June through November. The seeds also serve as food for birds and small wildlife.
Common questions
- How much water does sand sagebrush need?
- Once established, sand sagebrush needs very little supplemental water and handles long dry spells well, which makes it a good fit for low-water landscaping.
- What kind of light does sand sagebrush prefer?
- Sand sagebrush grows best in full sun to part sun, in open sites with good air movement.
- What pollinators visit sand sagebrush flowers?
- Bees are the main visitors to sand sagebrush, which flowers from summer into late fall.
- Does sand sagebrush lose its leaves in winter?
- Sand sagebrush keeps its narrow, silvery-gray leaves through most of the year, so it holds its shape and color in the landscape even in the off season.
- What soil conditions does sand sagebrush prefer?
- It does best in loose, sandy, well-drained soils, the kind found on dunes, sandhills, and open plains.
- Is Sand Sagebrush HOA-friendly?
- Sand Sagebrush takes more care to look intentional in a front yard. Consider it for backyard or mid-zone beds rather than the street edge.
These answers were drafted with an AI model from this plant's data. Verify care details with a local expert.
Native range data from vouchered herbarium specimen records and regional native plant society lists. Pollinator and host plant associations compiled from GBIF, iNaturalist, and published ecological literature.
If something looks wrong
Common plant problems, and what to check first
These come up on almost any plant. Each guide lists the likely causes in the order they are worth ruling out, with one thing to check before you act on any of them, and links to the source it came from.
- It is dying right after planting
- Leaves turning yellow
- Wilting even though I watered it
- Brown crispy leaf tips
- Bugs on the plant
Ready to grow Sand Sagebrush? Add it to your garden in Pollinator Patch to track it and get season-by-season care guidance.
Planning a bed around it? Start a free plan with this plant
Not sure where to start? Take the 2-minute yard quiz