Artemisia californica 'Canyon Gray' (Coastal Sagebrush)
← Back to Plant DatabaseArtemisia californica 'Canyon Gray'
Coastal Sagebrush
Characteristics
Height: 1 - 2 ft
Width: 4– 10 ft
Natural Setting: A natural cultivar of California Sagebrush (Artemisia californica) from San Miguel Island, one of the Channel Islands in Southern California.³
Plant Type: Groundcover
Dormancy: Evergreen or summer semi-deciduous
Form: Prostrate
Growth Rate: Fast
Flower Season: Summer/Fall
Soil: Adaptable, except poorly drained⁴. Does best with good draining soil or on a slope.
Sun Exposure: Full sun on the coast, but prefers part shade inland
Water Requirements: Low once established
Summer Dry: Provide occasional summer watering for it to stay evergreen
Cold Tolerance: Tolerates cold to 20 - 25° F³
Hardiness: Very hardy
Overview
A natural cultivar of California Sagebrush (Artemisia californica) from San Miguel Island, one of the Channel Islands in Southern California. This selection makes a great mass planted groundcover and the foliage has a pleasant fragrance.
Care & Maintenance
It requires little irrigation once established, but it can go semi-dormant by later summer without occasional irrigation. If you would prefer for it to stay evergreen year round, provide occasional summer watering (1x month once established).³
Prune heavily every 1-2 years to maintain denser foliage.³ If left unpruned, the middle of the plant gradually forms a mound, reaching a height of at least 3 feet, and tends to open up in the middle with age. To maintain a flat appearance, cut away any vertical or arching growth emerging from the center when it appears.⁴
Uses
Works well as a fragrant groundcover and looks great draping over a wall.
History
This selection was discovered on the windswept San Miguel Island, one of the Channel Islands in Southern California, by Ralph Philbrick (1934-2017), botanist and former Director of the Santa Barbra Botanic Garden.⁶
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A great mass evergreen groundcover that is adaptable and dependable.