Sage Brush, Big sagebrush, Bonneville big sagebrush

Artemisia tridentata

Physical Characteristics

Artemisia tridentata is an evergreen Shrub growing to 2.5 m (8ft 2in) at a medium rate. See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 4 and is frost tender. It is in leaf all year, in flower in October, and the seeds ripen from October to November. The species is hermaphrodite (has both male and female organs) and is pollinated by Wind. The plant is self-fertile. It is noted for attracting wildlife. Suitable for: light (sandy) and medium (loamy) soils, prefers well-drained soil and can grow in nutritionally poor soil. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils and can grow in very alkaline soils. It cannot grow in the shade. It prefers dry or moist soil and can tolerate drought.

Distribution

Western N. America - British Columbia to California and Mexico, east to Nebraska.

Habitats

Woodland Garden Sunny Edge; Cultivated Beds;

Edible Uses

Edible Parts: Leaves Seed Edible Uses: Condiment Tea Seeds are edible but variable — some reports say unpalatable and famine food, others note they were gathered in large amounts as a staple. Leaves are not edible except as bitter teas or medicine. Tea has strong medicinal taste (sage + paint). [2-3]. Leaves - cooked[61]. The subspecies A. tridentata vaseyana has a pleasant mint-like aroma whilst some other subspecies are very bitter and pungent[164]. The leaves are used as a condiment and to make a tea[257]. Seed - raw or cooked. Oily[46, 61]. It can be roasted then ground into a powder and mixed with water or eaten raw[84, 106, 161, 257]. The seed is very small and fiddly to use[K].

Medicinal Uses

Antirheumatic Antiseptic Digestive Disinfectant Febrifuge Miscellany Ophthalmic Poultice Sedative Skin Sage brush was widely employed by many native North American Indian tribes who used it to treat a wide range of disorders. It is little used in modern herbalism, though it certainly merits further investigation. The plant is antirheumatic, antiseptic, digestive, disinfectant, febrifuge, ophthalmic, poultice and sedative. A decoction of the leaves is used in the treatment of digestive disorders and sore throats. An infusion of the fresh or dried leaves is used to treat pneumonia, bad colds with coughing and bronchitis. It is used both internally and externally in the treatment of rheumatism. The crushed plant is used as a liniment on cuts, sores etc whilst a decoction of the leaves is used as an antiseptic wash for cuts, wounds and sores. A poultice of the steeped leaves is applied to sore eyes. The plant is burnt in the house in order to disinfect it.

Known Hazards

Although no reports of toxicity have been seen for this species, skin contact with some members of this genus can cause dermatitis or other allergic reactions in some people[222].