Taxonomy

Division:

Magnoliophyta | - Flowering plants

Family:

Asteraceae

Genus:

Artemisia

Species:

Artemisia arbuscula

USDA Symbol:

ARAR8

Growth Characteristics

Life Cycle:

Perennial

Growth Habit:

Shrub , Subshrub

Height:

50 cm

Light Requirements:

Full Sun

Drought Tolerance:

High

Bloom Months:

jul,aug,sep

Evergreen Shrub:

Yes

Landscaping Shrub:

Yes

Keystone Species Ranking

Caterpillar Keystone:

★★★★☆ Butterfly & moth species supported by this genus (NWF)

Garden & Ecology Notes

Wildlife Value:

birds, small mammals, browsed by pronghorn and sage grouse

Salt Tolerant:

Yes

Fragrant:

Yes

Fire Ecology:

Fire adapted — tolerates or benefits from fire

Fire Notes:

Resprouts vigorously from root crown after fire. Recovery typically occurs within 2-5 years post-burn, though less fire-resilient than basin big sagebrush.

Soil Requirements

Soil Type:

rocky, well-drained, nutrient-poor soil

pH:

6.0 - 8.0 (neutral to slightly alkaline)

Drainage:

excellent drainage required

Moisture:

dry to moderate

Notes:

Commonly found in arid, mountainous regions

Propagation & Germination

Stratification:

Cold/moist stratification required — 30–60 days

Germination Time:

14–30 days

Notes:

Seeds require light for germination and should be surface-sown. Germination can be erratic and low even under optimal conditions.

The above propagation data sourced from Claude AI