Artemisia ludoviciana (White Sage)

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, its lance-shaped foliage 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. Fits beautifully in 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.