Photo: James D. MorefieldCC BY-SA 4.0via Wikimedia Commonsresized / cropped
Silver sagebrush Plant Care
Sphaeromeria cana (D.C.Eaton) A.Heller
Updated · Sources · How we source care data
Sphaeromeria cana (recently proposed name Artemisia albicans) is a species of flowering plant in the family Asteraceae known by the common name gray chickensage. It is native to the western United States, where it is known from the Sierra Nevada, the adjacent desert ranges of eastern California and Nevada, and Steens Mountain of Oregon. It grows in dry, rocky mountain habitat, such as cracks and crevices, including the talus above the tree line. This is an aromatic subshrub with numerous erect branches growing up to 30 to 60 centimeters tall. It is gray-green in color and coated with woolly fibers. The leaves are linear or lance-shaped, the lower ones divided into lobes. The inflorescence is generally a cluster of flower heads lined with woolly phyllaries and containing yellow disc florets. There are no ray florets. The fruit is a ribbed achene about 2 millimeters long.
Full sun to partial shade
At a glance
How do you care for Silver sagebrush?
Silver sagebrush grows best in full sun to partial shade.
Where Is the Silver sagebrush Native To?
What Is the Silver sagebrush?
Silver sagebrush (Sphaeromeria cana) belongs to the Asteraceae family within the Sphaeromeria genus. Silver sagebrush is native to the western United States. Silver sagebrush is also known as White sagebrush, Sphaeromeria cana, Tanacetum canum.
Silver sagebrush displays a low-growing perennial growth habit, reaching up to tall with a spread of approximately . Silver sagebrush produces small daisy-like flowers in shades of pink, purple, or white.
What Light Does the Silver sagebrush Need?
Silver sagebrush thrives in full sun to partial shade.
Light Requirement
Full sun to partial shade
What Soil Mix Works Best for a Silver sagebrush?
Well-draining sandy soil with some organic matter. Good drainage is essential for Silver sagebrush to prevent waterlogging, which leads to root rot and fungal issues.
How Do You Repot a Silver sagebrush?
Repot every 2-3 years in early spring. Choose a pot one size larger than the current container, and ensure it has drainage holes to allow excess water to escape.
How Do You Propagate a Silver sagebrush?
Silver sagebrush can be propagated through seeds, division.
Is the Silver sagebrush Toxic to Pets and Children?
Pet safety not verified
The ASPCA does not list Silver sagebrush, so we can't confirm whether it is safe for cats and dogs. Keep pets from chewing it as a precaution.
This is a general caution, not veterinary or medical advice. If your pet ate a plant, contact your vet or animal poison control.
See all plants toxic to cats and plants toxic to dogs.
What Pests and Diseases Affect the Silver sagebrush?
Silver sagebrush is susceptible to aphids, whiteflies, spider mites. Inspect the foliage regularly, especially along leaf undersides and stems. Treat infestations promptly with insecticidal soap or neem oil to prevent spread.
Yellow leaves, brown tips or drooping? See common plant problems and how to fix them.
Keep exploring plants
Silver sagebrush is one of many species covered in the complete plant care and identification guide, which groups plants by genus, attribute, and popularity.
It belongs to the Sphaeromeria genus — compare its care with other Sphaeromeria species on PlantoScan.
Sphaeromeria is part of the Asteraceae plant family — browse all Asteraceae genera and species.
Silver sagebrush thrives in bright light and direct sun — see other bright-light plants.
Related Plant Care Guides
Closely related plants with similar care requirements:
Sources
- Scientific name & taxonomy: Sphaeromeria cana (D.C.Eaton) A.Heller, family Asteraceae (first published in Muhlenbergia i. 7. 1900) — World Flora Online record, IPNI name record.
- Pet toxicity: Pet safety not verified: the ASPCA does not list Silver sagebrush, so we can't confirm whether it is safe for cats and dogs. Checked against the ASPCA plant list; any other toxicity note on this page comes from PlantoScan's plant database.
- Photo: James D. Morefield, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons — original.
- Care values(watering, light, temperature, humidity, soil, fertilizing): PlantoScan's plant database, filtered by automatic plausibility checks — values that fail them are hidden. How we source and check plant data.
Spotted a mistake? Email info@upvision.media with the page link — we check and correct reported errors.
Identify Plants Like the
Silver sagebrush Instantly
Scan any plant with your phone camera and get instant ID, care tips, water and fertilizer reminders, and health checks — all in one app.
Free
to download
iOS & Android
platforms
Light & dark
mode
100,000+
species