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| ## sagewort wormwood {#sagewort-wormwood .Title-Header}               |
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| *Artemisia campestris* L. ssp. *caudata* (Michx.) Hall & Clements     |
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| Plant Symbol = ARCAC                                                  |
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##### *Contributed By: USDA NRCS National Plant Data Center*

###### Alternative Names![](media/image2.jpeg){width="1.4861111111111112in" height="3.347916666666667in"}

Western sagewort

###### Uses

*Ethnobotanical*: Both the Lakota and the Dakota used sagewort wormwood
(*Artemisia campestris*) for medicine (Kindscher 1992). The Lakota made
a tea from the roots to remedy constipation, inability to urinate, and
difficulty in childbirth (*Ibid*.). Blackfeet runners chewed leaves for
stamina. The Blackfeet also chewed the leaves of sagewort wormwood for
stomach troubles and applied the chewed leaves to rheumatic joints and
sore eyes (Kindscher 1992). A tea of fresh leaves was drunk to abort
difficult pregnancies. The Blackfeet stored the dried leaves for use in
a tea that was drank to relieve coughs and applied externally to relieve
eczema. The Shuswap use a decoction of sagewort wormwood for coughs,
colds, and tuberculosis (Moerman 1986). They also make a poultice of
steamed branches and apply it to bruises and sores.

*Wildlife*: Sagebrush furnishes essential cover for many of the smaller
desert animals (Martin et al. 1951). Its foliage and flower clusters
constitute most of the diet of the sage grouse, and these parts together
with the twigs are the primary source of food for antelope and mule
deer. Other mammals that browse the foliage and stems include
jackrabbits,

black-tailed rabbits, white-tailed rabbits, cottontails, chipmunks,
gophers, ground squirrels, various species of mice, prairie dogs,
kangaroo rats, and white-throated wood rats. Elk and mountain sheep
browse on the foliage and twigs. Range cattle also make good use of
sagebrush as forage.

###### Status

Please consult the PLANTS Web site and your State Department of Natural
Resources for this plant's current status, such as, state noxious status
and wetland indicator values.

###### Description

*General*: Sagewort wormwood (*Artemisia campestris*) is a
smooth-stemmed biennial herb 3-10 dm (1-4 ft) tall with stems arising
singly from a prominent taproot. This species is without the typical
sagebrush odor that is common to most *Artemisia* species. The basal
leaves are numerous, sometimes persistent and sometimes deciduous. These
leaves are 2-3x compound, and each leaf is 2-10 dm long and 1-4 dm wide.
The cauline leaves are less divided and become more reduced as they
ascend the stem. The inflorescence of numerous small heads is an
elongate but narrow panicle. The fruits are dry, smooth, broadly
cylindrical achenes. The mature achenes are sub-cylindric and hairless.
Sagewort wormwood flowers from August to September.

The lactone glycosides, santonin and artemisin, are probably found in
all *Artemisia* species and account for their anthelmintic properties
(Moore 1979). Thujone, a terpene-like ketone and essential oil, is also
found in the plant and may be responsible for some of its medicinal
effects (Kinscher 1992). However, it is poisonous in large doses. The
Food and Drug Administration classifies *Artemisia* as an unsafe herb
containing "a volatile oil which is an active narcotic poison" (Duke
1985).

###### Distribution

For current distribution, please consult the Plant Profile page for this
species on the PLANTS Web site.

###### Establishment

*Adaptation:* Sagewort wormwood grows in open places, and is often found
growing in sandy soil. Sagewort wormwood is circumboreal, and its
southern range occurs in Oregon, Arizona, Michigan, and Vermont.

Most of the wild sages are abundant in their natural habitats. White
sage and other *Artemisia* species can be propagated by seeds or by
cuttings taken in the early summer (Kindscher 1992).

#### *Propagation from Cuttings*: Sagewort wormwood spreads vigorously from a prominent taproot. Plants can easily be divided and replanted.

-   In greenhouse conditions, it is best to dig up and separate plants
    in late fall or winter. This is the "quiescent" period that follows
    seed maturation, and leaves are senescent (dried up and brown
    colored).

-   Split the plant clump into pieces by hand, then cut the plant into
    sections, each with one or more buds.

-   For dividing the whole plant, gently loosen the soil around the
    plant, taking care to not damage the roots, and then lift the plant
    gently with a pitchfork. Shake off as much soil from the roots as
    possible.

-   Divide the plant into smaller pieces by hand, retaining only
    healthy, vigorous sections, each with new buds.

-   Replant the divisions as soon as possible. It is important the
    plants don't dry out, so if replanting is delayed a couple of hours,
    dip the plants briefly in water and keep them in a sealed plastic
    bag in a cool, shady place until you are ready to plant them.

-   Cut back the old top-growth and replant the divided plant sections
    to the same depth as before.

-   When replanting, ensure that the roots are well spread out in the
    planting hole and the plant firmed in. Water newly planted divisions
    thoroughly; take care not to expose the roots by washing away soil
    when watering.

-   Plants should be planted in the full sun in a light, loose soil.
    Plants should be planted on 12-18" centers.

-   As plants are becoming established, the rooting zone needs to be
    kept moist.

#### 

#### *Propagation by seed*: When the soil has warmed to at least 45ºF (7ºC) in the spring, sow hardy *Artemisia* species where they are to flowers. 

-   Seeds can also be sown in pots or seed trays and either out-planted
    in their final positions in late fall or over-wintered in a cold
    frame to be out-planted in spring. This technique is particularly
    useful in gardens with clay soil that is slow to warm up in spring.

-   The two main methods of sowing outdoors are broadcast and drills.
    For both, prepare the seedbed first by digging over the soil to one
    spade depth, then rake over and firm.

-   Broadcast Sowing: Sprinkle seeds thinly and evenly on the surface of
    the prepared seedbed and rake them in lightly. Label the seedbeds,
    then water the area gently, but thoroughly, with a fine spray.

-   Sowing in drills: Use either a trowel tip or the corner of a hoe,
    mark out shallow drill holes 3-6" (8-15 cm) apart, depending on the
    ultimate size of the plant. Sow seeds thinly and evenly by
    sprinkling or placing them along each drill at the appropriate
    depth. Carefully cover with soil and firm. Label each row and water
    gently but thoroughly with a fine spray.

-   To prevent overcrowding, the seedlings usually need to be thinned.
    To minimize disturbance to a seedling being retained, press the soil
    around it after thinning the adjacent seedlings.

-   Water the newly establishing seedlings fairly frequently until the
    roots have developed.

###### Management

The following information on the *Traditional Resource Management* (TRM)
was provided by Lynn Youngbuck, who is Cherokee, Chiracahua, and Fox.
TRM includes the following:

-   Take only what you need, leaving the best to reproduce.

-   Speak to the plant, leave an offering of tobacco or sage before
    harvesting. The plant will grow back two stems for every one cut.

-   We humans are another strand in life. Plants sustain us and should
    be treated as another living being.

-   Plants were taken care of by extended family groups of women. They
    were taken care of and watched each year for generations.

-   Materials harvested were shared and traded with the whole tribe.

###### Cultivars, Improved and Selected Materials (and area of origin)

ARCAC is available from native plant nurseries within its range.

###### References

Andros, F. 1883. *The medicine and surgery of the Winnebago and Dakota
Indians*. American Medical Association Journal 1: 116-118.

Beichel, C., E. McDonald, & T. Cole (eds.) 1993. E*ncyclopedia of
gardening*. Dorling Kindersley, London, New York, Stuttgart. 648 pp.

Carlson, G.G. & V.H. Jones 1939. *Some notes on use of plants by the
Comanche Indians*. Michigan Academy of Science, Arts, and Letters 25:
517-543.

Densmore, F. 1974. *How Indians use wild plants for food, medicine, and
crafts*. Dover Publications, Inc., New York, New York. 397 pp.

Duke, J.A. 1985. *CRC handbook of medicinal herbs*. CRC Press, Boca
Raton, Florida.

Grinnell, G.B. 1962. *The Cheyenne Indians*. 2 vols. Cooper Square
Publishers, New York, New York.

Hart, J. A. 1976. *Montana native plants and early peoples*. Montana
Historical Society, Helena, Montana.

Hartmann, H.T., D.E. Kesler, & F.T. Davies, Jr. 1990. *Plant propagation
principles and practices.* Prentice Hall, Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey.

Kindscher, K. 1992. *Medicinal wild plants of the prairie*. *An
ethnobotanical guide*. University Press of Kansas. 340 pp.

Kindscher, K. 1987. *Edible wild plants of the prairie*. University
Press of Kansas. 276 pp.

Kroeber, A.L. 1908. *The ethnology of the Gros Ventre*. American Museum
of Natural History, Anthropological Papers 1: 145-281.

Martin, A.C., H.S. Zim, & A.L. Nelson 1951. *American wildlife and
plants a guide to wildlife food habits.* Dover Publications, Inc., New
York, New York. 500 pp.

M^c^Clintock, W. 1909. *Materia medica of the Blackfeet*. Zeitschrift
fur Ethnologie: 273-279.

McGregor, R.L., T.M. Barkley, R.E. Brooks, & E.K. Schofield (eds.).
*Flora of the Great Plains*. Great Plains Flora Association. University
Press of Kansas. 1402 pp.

Moerman, D.E. 1986. *Medicinal plants of Native America*. Research
Reports in Ethnobotany, Contribution 2, University of Michigan Museum of
Anthropology Technical Reports, Number 19. 534 pp.

Moore, M. 1979. *Medicinal plants of the mountain west*. Museum of New
Mexico Press, New Mexico.

USDA, NRCS 2000. *The PLANTS database*. Version: 000316.
\<http://plants.usda.gov\>. National Plant Data Center, Baton Rouge,
Louisiana.

USDI, Geological Survey 2000. *Native wildflowers of the North Dakota
grasslands*. Version: 000316.
\<http://www.npwrc.usgs.gov/resource/literatr/wildflwr/species/artecamp.htm\>.
Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center, Jamestown, North Dakota.

###### Prepared By

## *Michelle Stevens*

Formerly USDA, NRCS, National Plant Data Center

###### Species Coordinator

# *M. Kat Anderson*

USDA, NRCS, National Plant Data Center

c/o Plant Science Department, University of California, Davis,
California

Revised: 04dec00 jsp; 17mar03 ahv; 30may06jsp

For more information about this and other plants, please contact your
local NRCS field office or Conservation District, and visit the PLANTS
Web site\<[http://plants.usda.gov](http://plants.usda.gov/)\> or the
Plant Materials Program Web site
\<[http://Plant-Materials.nrcs.usda.gov](http://Plant-Materials.nrcs.usda.gov/)\>

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