White Sagebrush
Artemisia ludoviciana
NEMBA: Scrutiny advised
English: White Sagebrush, Silver Wormwood, Western Mugwort, Prairie Sage
French: Armoise de l’Ouest
Synonyms: Artemisia purshiana
Artemisia ludoviciana, also called white sagebrush or silver wormwood, is a silvery-white, aromatic perennial invasive in South Africa. It forms upright clumps or loose patches and spreads rapidly via underground rhizomes, giving off a sage-like scent when touched.
Have you got a better picture?
If you don't mind us using it, please upload it by clicking the Upload button below (you must be logged in to do this)
Distinguishing features:
Erect, silvery-white stems and foliage covered in dense, woolly hairs
Lance-shaped leaves, aromatic when crushed
Tiny yellowish-grey, discoid flower heads arranged in dense clusters (panicles) near stem tips
Spreads vegetatively through rhizomes and also by small achenes
Origin:
Native to North America; now introduced to South Africa and other continents
Overall appearance:
Perennial herb forming clumps with erect stems, woolly foliage and a strong sage-like fragrance
Height:
Grows to 0.3–1.0 m tall
Leaves:
Alternate, lance-shaped, 3–11 cm long and up to 1.5 cm wide
Upper surface nearly smooth; underside densely woolly
Aromatic when crushed
Flowers:
Tiny discoid heads ~0.5 cm wide, with yellow disc florets
No ray florets
Arranged in dense panicles up to 43 cm long
Flowering season:
Blooms July to October (winter–spring in South Africa)
Fruits:
Dry, broadly cylindrical achenes, seed heads ~3 mm (1/8 in) long
Seeds:
Minute achene without pappus, ~0.5 mm in length
Light greyish-brown
Stems:
Erect, sometimes branched; covered in woolly hairs; clustered from rhizomatous base
Roots:
Spreading rhizomes that form dense colonies; aids vegetative propagation
Soil type:
Thrives in dry to mesic conditions; tolerates poor, sandy or rocky, well-drained soils
Aspect:
Prefers full sun; colonises disturbed and open sites
Edibility:
Used traditionally in teas and for smudging, but no significant edible value locally
Toxicity:
Contains aromatic compounds; excessive use may cause irritation; avoid during pregnancy
Uses:
Medicinal and ceremonial: teas, smudging, deodorant, insect repellent
Ground cover for erosion control via rhizomes
Ecology:
Wind-pollinated; not attractive to bees or butterflies
Larval host for moth Phaneta argenticostana
Dense growth excludes native plants; not a food source for local birds or mammals
Distribution and habitat:
Naturalised in wetter and drier regions of South Africa, especially disturbed roadsides and open slopes
Derivation of name:
Artemisia named after Artemis, Greek goddess
ludoviciana refers to Louisiana
‘White sagebrush’ comes from its silvery foliage and resemblance to American sagebrush
Historical aspects:
Introduced as ornamental and medicinal herb; now forms dense patches that suppress indigenous flora
Interesting facts:
It spreads by both seeds and rhizomes—so pulling them out can leave hidden roots that regrow!
Though called “white sagebrush”, its tiny yellow flowers might mislead you—it’s the silvery leaves that earned the name.
The woolly hairs on stems and leaves give it a soft, felt-like texture—perfect to check identification by touch.
Plant type: perennial herbaceous
Plant family: Asteraceae
NEMBA status: Declared invasive alien
Viable Alternatives
Artemisia afra – indigenous aromatic herb with medicinal uses; full sun tolerant
Senecio barbertonicus – evergreen shrub with yellow flowers, drier habitats
Helichrysum odoratissimum – silver-grey foliage plant, rounded habit, sun-loving
Friendly alternatives:
Broad-leaved Bristle Grass
Setaria megaphylla
Plant type:
Rhizomatous, evergreen, ground cover, herbaceous or perennial
Plant family:
Asteraceae (star) - Order: Asterales