Plant · GBIF taxon 3120755
California Sagebrush
Artemisia californicaAlso known as Cowboy Cologne, Coastal Sagebrush, Canyon Sagebrush
California sagebrush forms the aromatic foundation of southern California's coastal sage scrub community, releasing a pungent herbal scent from resinous glands across its feathery foliage. It drops much of its silvery leaves during scorching summer droughts to conserve moisture, reviving rapidly with the arrival of winter rains. This pioneer shrub anchors fragile coastal slopes and provides indispensable cover and nesting habitat for threatened birds.
AromaticDrought-TolerantShrub
—observations
—countries
—peak records
Least ConcernConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXLeast ConcernRed List categories, explained →
Diet & prey
- Photosynthetic
Predators
- Mule Deer
- Desert Cottontail
- Brush Rabbit
ThreatsUrban development, altered wildfire frequencies, and invasive exotic grasses
HabitatsCoastal sage scrub, chaparral, and coastal bluffs
Life span10–25 years
Size / weightNot available
Classification
- FamilyAsteraceae
- SpeciesArtemisia californica
Range data is not available yet.
Interaction riskHigh
- Low
- Moderate
- High
- Very high
- Why interaction risk is high
- Toxic to dogs and cats if ingested; safe to observe at a normal distance.
Responsible observation
- Scent Experience: Gently brush a leaf between your fingertips to release its iconic fragrant oils.
- Fire Safety: Avoid planting immediately adjacent to wooden structures due to flammable volatile resins.
Ecological Partner no rights reserved · cc0
Frequent Companion No machine-readable author provided. Curtis Clark assumed (based on copyright claims). / CC BY-SA 2.5 · cc-by-sa
Frequent Companion (c) Dick Culbert, some rights reserved (CC BY) · cc-by
Same Genus (c) Matt Lavin, some rights reserved (CC BY) · cc-by
Same Family (c) George Williams, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by George Williams · cc-by
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