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Artemisia ludoviciana (White Sage)

Western Mugwort, White Sage, Silver Wormwood, Louisiana Sage, Prairie Sage

Artemisia Ludoviciana, Western Mugwort, White Sage, Silver Wormwood, Louisiana Sage, Prairie Sage, Silver Queen, Silver King, Silver Frost, Artemisia Valerie Finnis, Silver foliage plant, aromatic foliage plant
Artemisia Ludoviciana, Western Mugwort, White Sage, Silver Wormwood, Louisiana Sage, Prairie Sage, Silver Queen, Silver King, Silver Frost, Artemisia Valerie Finnis, Silver foliage plant, aromatic foliage plant

Grown for its magnificent silver-white foliage, Artemisia ludoviciana (White Sage) is a fast-spreading perennial that adds light and contrast to the landscape and combines well with almost everything. Typically growing in a bushy clump, the lance-shaped foliage of this foliage plant is aromatic when bruised. The leaves, 2-4 in. long (5-10 cm) are white-woolly beneath and nearly glabrous above. Its tiny, yellow-gray flowers are inconspicuous and should be removed as they appear.

  • Grows up to 2-3 ft. tall and wide (60-90 cm). This plant may spread aggressively by rhizomes and by self-seeding.
  • Thrives in poor to moderately fertile, dry to medium moisture, well-drained soils in full sun. Excellent soil drainage is essential. White Sage can die back in heavy, poorly-drained soil.
  • Focal point as a single specimen. It fits beautifully in the beds and borders of perennial flowers and is a lovely addition to the herb garden or cottage garden.
  • Generally pest free. Keep an eye out for powdery mildews. Drought, deer, and rabbit tolerant!
  • Cut back to the base of the plant in autumn.
  • Remove flower heads as they appear to prevent self-seeding. Use soil barriers to help contain the rhizomatous spread.
  • Propagate by division or semi-hardwood cuttings in late summer.
  • Native throughout North America from Canada to Mexico.
  • Main Artemisia ludoviciana cultivars are ‘Silver King‘ with dense, downy silvery-white foliage; ‘Silver Queen‘ with finely divided, silvery leaves; ‘Valerie Finnis‘ with silvery-gray, sharply cut leaves. It is less aggressive than the others and won the Award of Garden Merit (RHS); ‘Silver Frost‘, a very compact cultivar (up to 18 in. or 45 cm) with finely cut leaves.

Requirements

Hardiness 4 - 9
Heat Zones 1 - 9
Climate Zones 1, 1A, 1B, 2, 2A, 2B, 3, 3A, 3B, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
Plant Type Perennials
Plant Family Compositae
Genus Artemisia
Common names Mugwort, Prairie Sage, White Sage, Wormwood
Exposure Full Sun
Season of Interest Spring (Mid, Late)
Summer (Early, Mid, Late)
Height 2' - 3'
(60cm - 90cm)
Spread 2' - 3'
(60cm - 90cm)
Spacing 24" - 36"
(60cm - 90cm)
Maintenance Average
Water Needs Low
Soil Type Chalk, Loam, Sand
Soil pH Acid, Alkaline, Neutral
Soil Drainage Well-Drained
Characteristics Fragrant, Showy
Native Plants United States, New Hampshire, Maine, New York, New Jersey, Maryland, Massachusetts, Delaware, Connecticut, Vermont, Rhode Island, Pennsylvania, Pacific Northwest, Midwest, Southeast, California, Southwest, Rocky Mountains, Northeast, Wisconsin, Ohio, Indiana, North Dakota, Nebraska, Kansas, South Dakota, Michigan, Iowa, Minnesota, Missouri, Illinois, Oregon, Idaho, Washington, Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi, Arkansas, Virginia, Tennessee, South Carolina, North Carolina, Louisiana, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Texas, Nevada, Arizona, Utah, Colorado, Wyoming, Montana
Tolerance Drought, Deer, Rabbit, Dry Soil
Attracts Butterflies
Garden Uses Beds And Borders, Patio And Containers, Underplanting Roses And Shrubs
Garden Styles Informal and Cottage
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Alternative Plants to Consider

Artemisia absinthium (Wormwood)
Artemisia pycnocephala (Sand Hill Sage)
Artemisia douglasiana (Douglas Mugwort)
Artemisia frigida (Prairie Sagebrush)
Artemisia filifolia (Sand Sagebrush)
Artemisia tridentata (Big Sagebrush)

Recommended Companion Plants

Miscanthus sinensis ‘Malepartus’ (Chinese Silver Grass)
Carex grayi (Mace Sedge)
Helichrysum petiolare (Licorice Plant)
Pennisetum setaceum ‘Rubrum’ (Purple Fountain Grass)
Alchemilla mollis (Lady’s Mantle)
Stachys byzantina (Lamb’s Ears)

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While every effort has been made to describe these plants accurately, please keep in mind that height, bloom time, and color may differ in various climates. The description of these plants has been written based on numerous outside resources.
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Requirements

Hardiness 4 - 9
Heat Zones 1 - 9
Climate Zones 1, 1A, 1B, 2, 2A, 2B, 3, 3A, 3B, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
Plant Type Perennials
Plant Family Compositae
Genus Artemisia
Common names Mugwort, Prairie Sage, White Sage, Wormwood
Exposure Full Sun
Season of Interest Spring (Mid, Late)
Summer (Early, Mid, Late)
Height 2' - 3'
(60cm - 90cm)
Spread 2' - 3'
(60cm - 90cm)
Spacing 24" - 36"
(60cm - 90cm)
Maintenance Average
Water Needs Low
Soil Type Chalk, Loam, Sand
Soil pH Acid, Alkaline, Neutral
Soil Drainage Well-Drained
Characteristics Fragrant, Showy
Native Plants United States, New Hampshire, Maine, New York, New Jersey, Maryland, Massachusetts, Delaware, Connecticut, Vermont, Rhode Island, Pennsylvania, Pacific Northwest, Midwest, Southeast, California, Southwest, Rocky Mountains, Northeast, Wisconsin, Ohio, Indiana, North Dakota, Nebraska, Kansas, South Dakota, Michigan, Iowa, Minnesota, Missouri, Illinois, Oregon, Idaho, Washington, Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi, Arkansas, Virginia, Tennessee, South Carolina, North Carolina, Louisiana, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Texas, Nevada, Arizona, Utah, Colorado, Wyoming, Montana
Tolerance Drought, Deer, Rabbit, Dry Soil
Attracts Butterflies
Garden Uses Beds And Borders, Patio And Containers, Underplanting Roses And Shrubs
Garden Styles Informal and Cottage
How Many Plants
Do I Need?
Explore Great Plant Combination Ideas
Artemisia
Guides with
Artemisia
Not sure which Artemisia to pick?
Compare Now

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