Herb recovery requires a longer period than with other treatments. It has numerous, large flowering heads. The whole plant is a dark gray green. The leaves are broadly cuneate and are not persistent. Early sagebrush forms pure stands adjacent to low sagebrush stands, bur the two species also occur mixed.
Early sagebrush is an indicator of an edaphic climax and is a dominant shrub in such stands.
Early sagebrush does not sprout from the root or stump. Beetle, A. A. 1960. Beetle, Alan A. 1962. Utilization and condition classes. Sagebrush in Wyoming.