Fringed Sage

Prairie Sagewort, Wormwood

Artemisia frigida

ar-teh-MEEZ-ee-uh FRIH-jih-duh
6 to 15 in.
18 to 24 in.
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very low

yellow, but inconspicuous

midsummer

6 to 15 in.

18 to 24 in.

Yes

central and western United States

sun

USDA zones 3-8

hardy to 10,000 ft.

Fringed sage is a common native plant found from the plains to montane regions of Colorado. The leaves are strongly aromatic. 

It grows as a short, mounding perennial with erect stems and silvery-grey, feathery leaves. Covering the plant is an abundance of silvery hairs giving it a silky grey-green appearance. Flower clusters are very small, measuring a quarter inch in diameter and made up of numerous tiny disk flowers. Prairie sagewort blooms from July to August. 

This is a great plant for a naturalistic landscape, and for contrasting foliage color among other small plants. It mixes well with wildflowers, too.

very low

yellow, but inconspicuous

midsummer

6 to 15 in.

18 to 24 in.

Yes

central and western United States

sun

USDA zones 3-8

hardy to 10,000 ft.

At the Xeriscape Demonstration Garden, fringed sage is used as a "filler plant" in the Dwarf Conifer Rock Garden. It grows in between wildflowers and native grasses. Individual plants grow well for a few seasons, then die out. New seedlings appear regularly.

Fringed sage has also grown well in the no water zone on a south-facing slope.

Remove dead stems as needed.