Species specifics: Big sagebrush

Fast facts about big sagebrush

The most common evergreen woody species in the western rangelands.
A highly competitive native species that can limit perennial grass production to about one-third of that in areas that have been cleared.
A long-lived perennial that can exceed 100 years in age.
Three-lobbed, wedged-shaped leaves produce a distinct odor when crushed.

What to look for

Big sagebrush (Artemisia tridentata) is a native plant whose presence is beneficial in many respects. It helps suppress invasive weeds and brush, holds snow in the winter, cycles soil nutrients and provides safe sites for grasses and forbs.

This evergreen shrub averages 3 feet in height and can reach up to 10 feet in some conditions. The plant can be identified by its coarse, gray branches and wedge-shaped leaves with three blunt lobes. Leaves are silvery-blue and contain a distinctive odor when crushed.

In late summer, the plant produces yellow flowers that form panicles and shed seeds in late fall. Once shed, big sagebrush seeds remain viable for up to one year. Big sagebrush can also reproduce through shoots that emerge from underground rhizomes connected to the parent plant. Once established, big sagebrush is generally long-lived and can reach ages of more than 100 years.

The desired density of big sagebrush varies greatly according to management objectives for a particular site. However, it is generally accepted that a variety of sagebrush densities on a landscape (a mosaic) results in better overall rangeland health and wildlife habitat. Big sagebrush can also reach densities that are detrimental to the ecological health of western rangelands. At these levels, big sagebrush can reduce productivity, plant and animal diversity, wildlife habitat and soil protection.

Where it is found

Big sagebrush grows in arid and semi-arid conditions across much of the Great Basin and Rocky Mountains, including California, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah, Washington and Wyoming, as well as the western Great Plains, including Nebraska, North Dakota and South Dakota. It is the most common woody shrub found in the cold desert, steppe and mountain habitats of the Intermountain West region of the U.S.

How to treat it

Balancing the population density of big sagebrush is key. For effective control, apply Spike® 20P herbicide at 3.75 to 5 pounds per acre. Reduced rates of Spike 20P herbicide at 1 to 2.5 pounds per acre may be used for sagebrush thinning or canopy reduction.

Spike® is a registered trademark of Nutrichem used under license. Contact your state pesticide regulatory agency to determine if a product is registered for sale or use in your state. Always read and follow label directions.