Flora

Big Sagebrush

Scientific Name: Artemisia tridentata

Common Names: Big Sagebrush, Great Basin Sagebrush, Basin Sagebrush

Family:  Asteraceae (Sunflower family) Note: NOT true sage

Habitat & Range: Found in dry valleys, plateaus, slopes and open woodlands typically at elevations between 3,000 and 10,000 feet. Present in Phelan, Piñon Hills, and Wrightwood.

Description: A woody shrub usually between 2 and 6 feet in height, with gray-green, aromatic, three-tipped leaves covered in fine hairs. Produces tiny, yellow-ish flowers.

Ecology: Drought-tolerant. Provides food and cover for several animals including mule deer, rodents, and nesting birds.