Foliage Plants for High Desert Gardens

Most Artemisia species make ideal low maintenance, drought tolerant plants for backyard and front yard landscape designs in much of the arid western United States. In fact there are a number of species of Artemisia such as Big Sagebrush (Artemisia tridentata), Sand Sage (Artemisia filifolia), Silver Sage (Artemisia cana), Prairie Sagebrush (Artemisia ludoviciana), and Fringed Sage (Artemisia frigida) are native to arid regions of the western United States.

Landscape Design Ideas for Artemisias

Artemisias are valued for their silver grey foliage which varies in texture depending on the species. Though all produce flowers their flowers are not attractive and unless you want seed, it’s best to trim the flowering stalks back. They come in all sizes from herbaceous perennials like Fringed Sage to woody shrubs like Big Sagebrush. Some examples of Artemisias, both native and non-native to North America are;

• Big Sagebrush (Artemisia tridentata)–this 3′ to 6′ tall evergreen woody shrub with small three lobed leaves is a North American native. It makes a nice accent plant in a dry area of the yard and looks nice mixed with conifers or placed among large boulders. It needs little or no pruning if placed where it won’t obstruct pathways or driveways.
• Sand Sage (Artemisia filifolia)–is a 4′ tall by 4′ wide evergreen shrub with silvery grey filamentous shaped leaves and is native to the American Southwest. It’s branches sway in the breeze just like grass and the filamentous shaped leaves give the branches an almost feathery appearance. This plant makes a nice accent plant on the edge of a rock garden or near the intersection of two pathways.
• Prairie Sage (Artemisia luoviciana)– is better known for crafting and aromatic properties and is native to North America. It has silvery light grey-green lobed leaves. It’s an herbaceous perennial that reaches a height of 3′ during the growing season and should trimmed to the ground each winter. Care should be taken when placing this plant where it won’t choke other desirable plants since it spreads by rhizomes. However, it can be great for hold soil in place in an area that is difficult to irrigate.
• Silver Sage (Artemisia cana)–is a 3′ to 5′ woody shrub with fragrant silver grey foliage that can be used in similar way to Big Sagebrush but it’s smaller. Like Big Sagebrush it is native to the American West.
• Fringed Sage (Artemisia frgida)–is a North American native plant and is a mat forming herbaceous perennial with finely textured, silver grey leaves. When flowering spikes are trimmed back before blooming this plant will stay mat-like.
• Mugwort (Artemisia vulgaris)–plant only if you are doing herbal crafting since it can be invasive.
• Wormwood (Artemisia absinthium)–a clump forming perennial introduced from Europe that can go in a rock garden or between flowering perennials in a perennial bed. It is best kept pruned back so the flowers never bloom and the plant is kept in a mounding form.
• Southernwood (Artemisia arbrotanum)–a introduced from the Mediterranean that grows in a soft green clump that is very aromatic. Like wormwood it can ad foliar contrast to darker green flowering perennials.

Caring for Artemisias

Most Artemisias originate from dry climates and prefer well drained soils with very little organic matter. In areas where they are native only a little watering for initial establishment will be needed and then they will thrive on neglect. Winter hardiness of Artemisias varies by species but most native species are hardy to zone 3. Some introduced species native to the Mediterranean such as Artemisia arborescens or Southern California natives such as Artemisia pycnocephala are not very cold hardy.

Few pests bother Artemisias so there is no need for spraying them. In fact in some cases they can be used to control pests on other plants by planting them next to a plants that are susceptible to insects or rodents because these pests are repelled by the aromatic leaves of the Artemisia. However, this only works if the pest susceptible plants also like the dry, lean soils required by the Artemisias.

Artemisias are harder to maintain in humid climates where soils may remain moist and organic matter in the soil may be too high because they are very susceptible to root rot. Even in dry climates where gardeners are either watering neighboring plants that require more water or have enriched their soil with fertilizers and organic amendments lose to root rot.

With ideal growing conditions, the only major maintenance issues with any species of Artemisia is with the herbaceous perennial species that spread by rhizomes. These species may have to be dug out of other beds and can choke out other less aggressive plant species.