Practical
Plants

Artemisia ludoviciana

White Sage

a perennial member of the Artemisia genus in the family Compositae.

No photo available

Taxonomy and growth

Life cycle
perennial
Height
1 m
Spread
1 m
Fertility
Wind
Flower type
hermaphrodite
Pollinators
Wind

Uses

Toxicity

Toxicity warning. The historical record reports a hazard for this plant. Do not use it to decide which parts are safe to eat or use medicinally.

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

There is a report that the plant can cause allergies in some people[10].

Edible uses

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Leaves and flowering heads are used as a flavouring or garnish for sauces, gravies etc[5]. A herb tea is made from the leaves and flowering heads[5]. Seed[2][3][4][5]. No further details are given but the seed is very small and fiddly to use.

Product or use
Condiment
Product or use
Tea
Plant part
Seed

Medicinal uses

Historical medicinal uses. These records describe reported uses. They do not establish safety or effectiveness. Ask a qualified health professional before using any plant medicinally.

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

The leaves are astringent[10]. They were commonly used by the N. American Indians to induce sweating, curb pain and diarrhoea[10]. A weak tea was used in the treatment of stomach ache and menstrual disorders[10]. Externally, a wash of the leaves was applied to itching, rashes, swellings, boils, sores, etc[10]. The wash was also applied to eczema and as an underarm deodorant[13]. A poultice of the leaves can be applied to spider bites, blisters and burst boils[13]. A snuff of the crushed leaves has been used to treat headaches, the sinuses and nosebleeds[13].

Product or use
Astringent
Product or use
Poultice
Product or use
Skin

Material uses

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

The plant makes a useful ground cover plant once it is established[8]. The leaves can be placed in the shoes as a foot deodorant[13]. An infusion of the leaves has been used as an underarm deodorant[13]. The soft leaves can be used as a toilet paper[13]. The plant can be burnt to repel mosquitoes[13].

Product or use
Deodorant
Product or use
Repellent

Ecology and functions

Ecosystem niche
Soil surface

Environment

Range
Western N. America - Michigan to Washington, south to Texas and Mexico.
Habitat
Prairies, dry open soils and thin woodland[14].
Light
full sun
Shade tolerance
light shade
Water
moderate
Hardiness
Zone 5+
Soil textures
sandy, loamy
Soil pH
neutral, alkaline
Drainage
well drained
Tolerances
drought
Tolerates Nutritionally Poor Soil
No
Drought
tolerant

Propagation

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Seed - surface sow from late winter to early summer in a greenhouse, making sure that the compost does not dry out[9]. When large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and grow them on in the greenhouse for their first winter. Plant out in late spring or early summer. Division in spring or autumn[9]. Basal cuttings in late spring. Harvest the young shoots when about10 - 15cm long, pot up in a lightly shaded position in a greenhouse or cold frame and plant them out when well rooted. Very easy.

Cultivation

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Easily grown in a well-drained circumneutral or slightly alkaline loamy soil, preferring a sunny position[1][9]. Does well in a sandy soil[7]. Established plants are very drought tolerant[8]. Plants are longer lived, more hardy and more aromatic when they are grown in a poor dry soil[12]. A very polymorphic species[14]. Slugs love the young shoots of this plant and have been known to destroy even well-established plants[K]. A very ornamental plant, spreading by stolons to form loose patches[6], it can be invasive[8]. There are many named forms selected for their ornamental value[9]. Members of this genus are rarely if ever troubled by browsing deer[11].

References

  1. F. Chittendon. RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956 Oxford University Press 1951-00-00

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  2. Tanaka. T. Tanaka's Cyclopaedia of Edible Plants of the World. Keigaku Publishing 1976-00-00

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  3. Yanovsky. E. Food Plants of the N. American Indians. Publication no. 237. U.S. Depf of Agriculture.

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  4. Kunkel. G. Plants for Human Consumption. Koeltz Scientific Books 1984-00-00 ISBN 3874292169

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  5. Facciola. S. Cornucopia - A Source Book of Edible Plants. Kampong Publications 1990-00-00 ISBN 0-9628087-0-9

    ↩1↩2↩3

  6. Phillips. R. & Rix. M. Perennials Volumes 1 and 2. Pan Books 1991-00-00 ISBN 0-330-30936-9

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  7. Brickell. C. The RHS Gardener's Encyclopedia of Plants and Flowers Dorling Kindersley Publishers Ltd. 1990-00-00 ISBN 0-86318-386-7

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  8. Chatto. B. The Dry Garden. Dent 1982-00-00 ISBN 0460045512

    ↩1↩2↩3

  9. Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press 1992-00-00 ISBN 0-333-47494-5

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4

  10. Foster. S. & Duke. J. A. A Field Guide to Medicinal Plants. Eastern and Central N. America. Houghton Mifflin Co. 1990-00-00 ISBN 0395467225

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5

  11. Thomas. G. S. Perennial Garden Plants J. M. Dent & Sons, London. 1990-00-00 ISBN 0 460 86048 8

    ↩

  12. Genders. R. Scented Flora of the World. Robert Hale. London. 1994-00-00 ISBN 0-7090-5440-8

    ↩

  13. Moerman. D. Native American Ethnobotany Timber Press. Oregon. 1998-00-00 ISBN 0-88192-453-9

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5↩6↩7

  14. Fernald. M. L. Gray's Manual of Botany. American Book Co. 1950-00-00

    ↩1↩2

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