How much sun does Silver sagebrush need?

Silver sagebrush grows best in full sun conditions.

When does Silver sagebrush bloom?

Silver sagebrush blooms in August and September.

Where is Silver sagebrush native?

Silver sagebrush (Artemisia cana) is native to AZ, CA, CO, ID and 9 more states, per vouchered herbarium specimen records and regional native plant society lists.

What pollinators does Silver sagebrush attract?

Silver sagebrush draws wind pollinated.

Silver sagebrush

Name: Pollinator Patch
Author: Pollinator Patch

Artemisia cana

Last reviewed: November 2026

Silver sagebrush (Artemisia cana) is a perennial shrub native to AZ, CA, CO, ID and 9 more states. It blooms in August and September. The flowers draw wind pollinated.

Watering reminders and freeze alerts for Silver sagebrush, free in the app.

Toxicity unknown

Silver sagebrush (Artemisia cana) 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

full sun

Water

low

Size

24"–48" H × 24"–48" W

Bloom

Aug, Sep

Native to

AZ, CA, CO, ID and 9 more states

Pollinators

wind pollinated

Before you buy

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Cities and water utilities offer rebates for replacing lawn with native and water-wise plants. We track 461 programs across 44 states, each with a link to the provider and the date we last checked it.

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Browse plants for this ecoregion

Northwestern Forested Mountains Sierra Nevada North American Deserts Central Basin and Range Southern Rockies High Plains Northwestern Glaciated Plains Northwestern Great Plains

A rounded, aromatic shrub with narrow silvery-gray leaves and small inconspicuous yellow flower spikes in late summer. Grows in dense colonies on prairie flats and along drainages in sagebrush steppe.

Growing Silver sagebrush

Grow Silver sagebrush in full sun and low water. Mature plants reach 24 to 48 inches tall and spread 24 to 48 inches wide.

Wildlife value

Foliage is browsed by mule deer and pronghorn, and the dense structure provides nesting and escape cover for grassland birds.

Common questions

How much sun does Silver sagebrush need?: Silver sagebrush grows best in full sun conditions.
When does Silver sagebrush bloom?: Silver sagebrush blooms in August and September.
Where is Silver sagebrush native?: Silver sagebrush (Artemisia cana) is native to AZ, CA, CO, ID and 9 more states, per vouchered herbarium specimen records and regional native plant society lists.
What pollinators does Silver sagebrush attract?: Silver sagebrush draws wind pollinated.

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.

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