14 Aug Not A Weed Wednesday – Prairie Sage
Prairie Sage (Artemisia ludoviciana and frigida)
This aromatic, silvery-white perennial is found throughout the Special Areas. Easily identified with its distinctive scent and silvery leaves, fringed sage is lower growing with fine, hair-like leaves. Prairie sage is taller with long oval leaves but has the same distinctive scent and silvery leaves. Flowers of both native sage species are rather inconspicuous, mainly looking like tiny spheres on an extended branch. A closer inspection shows yellow flowers on fringed sage, and brownish petals on prairie sage.
Our native sages can be differentiated from the invasive absinthe wormwood which is also aromatic and silver by the taller growth habit and 2-3 times dived leaves.
Native sage species have been traditionally used by Indigenous peoples medicinally as a treatment for headaches and digestion issues. They are also used ceremonially as incense or a smudge.
Contact a Special Areas Rangeland Agrologist for more information on optimal range health and grazing on native grasslands.
