Description: This perennial plant is native or adventive
from the west. It is usually about 2-3' tall when mature, branching
occasionally in the upper half. The stems are covered in a dense mat of short
white hairs. The alternate leaves are up to 3½" long and 1" across. They
are usually oblanceolate, narrowly ovate, or linear. The lower leaves may have
a few lobes or coarse teeth towards their tips, while the upper leaves have
smooth margins. Like the stems, the leaves have a dense mat of short white
hairs, especially on the lower surface. This variety of White Sage has dense
white hairs on the upper surface of the leaves as well, except for the oldest
leaves toward the bottom of the plant. The leaves are sessile against the stem,
or have short petioles. Some of the upper stems terminate in elongated spikes
or narrow racemes of compound flowers. Each flowerhead is only 1/8 across, and
contains numerous whitish green disk florets that are inconspicuous. The
blooming period is late summer to early fall, and lasts about a month. There is
no floral scent, although the foliage of this plant is quite aromatic.
Pollination is by wind, rather than insects. The tiny seeds are without tufts
of hair, but are small enough to be distributed by the wind. The root system is
rhizomatous, and can form a dense mat of roots near the surface of the ground.
As a result, this plant has a strong tendency to form vegetative colonies that
exclude other plants.
Cultivation:
The preference is full sun and dry conditions. Poor soil containing hardpan
clay, rocky material, or sand is actually preferred as a medium for growth, as
this reduces competition from other plants. The foliage is very attractive and
doesn't have significant problems with disease. This plant can spread
aggressively in some situations.
Range &
Habitat: White Sage is occasional in northern and western Illinois,
but rare or absent in other parts of the state (see
Distribution
Map). Some authorities think this plant is native to Illinois (e.g.,
Britton & Brown), while others believe it is adventive from the west (e.g.,
Mohlenbrock). It is usually found along railroads and roadsides, and sometimes
in dry upland areas of prairies. Cultivated forms of this plant can be
found in flower
gardens because of the attractive foliage. If this plant is native, Illinois
would be at the eastern boundary of its distribution.
Faunal Associations: The flowers don't attract
insects because they are wind-pollinated. White Sage has the potential to cause
allergies in humans because of this pollen, but this species isn't very common
within the state. An uncommon spur-throated grasshopper, Hypochlora
alba, feeds on the foliage of this species and often hides in it during the
day. This is because its coloration matches the foliage. Mammalian herbivores
don't consume this plant because the aromatic foliage has a bitter taste. The
seeds are too small to be of much interest to birds.
Photographic Location: The photographs were taken at
Meadowbrook Park in Urbana, Illinois, where a small colony of plants is located
in a restored prairie. The plants are not in bloom.
Comments: This variety of White Sage has striking
foliage. The typical variety, Artemesia ludoviciana ludoviciana, has
greener foliage with fewer white hairs. The leaves of this latter variety are
supposed to be broader and more likely to have lobes or serrated margins toward
the leaf tips. However, the hairiness and shape of the leaves can be rather
variable for this species, regardless of the variety. Other Artemesia spp. have
foliage that is more green and pinnately lobed. A few species, such as the
introduced Artemesia vulgaris (Mugwort), have silvery hairs on the lower
surface of the leaves, but their upper surface is predominantly
green.