Prairie Sagebrush

Prairie Sagebrush

(Photo courtesy of NetPS Plant Finder)

Prairie Sagebrush foliage

Prairie Sagebrush foliage

(Photo courtesy of NetPS Plant Finder)

Other Names:  Fringed Sage, Silky Wormwood, Mugwort

Description:

This selection presents soft, fragrant silver foliage and a low, upright habit, excellent for contrast in garden beds or as a shimmering groundcover; drought tolerant once established; prune only in early spring to keep compact and shapely

Ornamental Features

Prairie Sagebrush's attractive deeply cut ferny leaves emerge white in spring, turning grayish green in color with hints of silver throughout the season on a plant with an upright spreading habit of growth. It features subtle yellow round flowers at the ends of the stems in late summer. The white stems can be quite attractive.

Landscape Attributes

Prairie Sagebrush is a dense herbaceous perennial with an upright spreading habit of growth. It brings an extremely fine and delicate texture to the garden composition and should be used to full effect.

This is a high maintenance plant that will require regular care and upkeep, and is best cut back to the ground in late winter before active growth resumes. Deer don't particularly care for this plant and will usually leave it alone in favor of tastier treats. Gardeners should be aware of the following characteristic(s) that may warrant special consideration;

• Spreading

Prairie Sagebrush is recommended for the following landscape applications;

• Mass Planting
• Rock/Alpine Gardens
• Border Edging
• General Garden Use
• Groundcover
• Container Planting

Planting & Growing

Prairie Sagebrush will grow to be about 18 inches tall at maturity, with a spread of 18 inches. When grown in masses or used as a bedding plant, individual plants should be spaced approximately 12 inches apart. Its foliage tends to remain dense right to the ground, not requiring facer plants in front. It grows at a medium rate, and under ideal conditions can be expected to live for approximately 10 years. As an herbaceous perennial, this plant will usually die back to the crown each winter, and will regrow from the base each spring. Be careful not to disturb the crown in late winter when it may not be readily seen!

This plant should only be grown in full sunlight. It prefers dry to average moisture levels with very well-drained soil, and will often die in standing water. It is considered to be drought-tolerant, and thus makes an ideal choice for a low-water garden or xeriscape application. This plant should not require much in the way of fertilizing once established, although it may appreciate a shot of general-purpose fertilizer from time to time early in the growing season. It is not particular as to soil pH, but grows best in poor soils, and is able to handle environmental salt. It is highly tolerant of urban pollution and will even thrive in inner city environments. This species is native to parts of North America. It can be propagated by division.

Prairie Sagebrush is a fine choice for the garden, but it is also a good selection for planting in outdoor pots and containers. It is often used as a 'filler' in the 'spiller-thriller-filler' container combination, providing a mass of flowers and foliage against which the larger thriller plants stand out. Note that when growing plants in outdoor containers and baskets, they may require more frequent waterings than they would in the yard or garden.