Don't want to see ads? Sign up...




Artemisia douglasiana

Artemisia douglasiana

Besser ex Hook.

Family: Asteraceae
Order: Asterales
Class: Magnoliopsida
Phylum / Division: Magnoliophyta
Kingdom: Plantae

 Request change



Filters




Description


Artemisia douglasiana, known as California mugwort, Douglas´s sagewort, or dream plant, is a western North American species of aromatic herb in the sunflower family.

Distribution and habitat: The herbaceous perennial is native to the Western United States in California, Idaho, Nevada, Oregon, and Washington; and in northwestern Baja California, Mexico.

The plant prefers direct sunlight and moist soils, but tolerates shady areas and dry soils. It occupies hardiness zones 6a to 10b and occurs at elevations ranging from 0–3080 meters. A. douglasiana is often found in ditches and streambanks.

 Artemisia douglasiana is dicot, and a perennial forb. Its stems grow from a substantial colony of rhizomes which require a minimum soil depth of 16 cm and can grow in fine to coarse soils. The stems grow erect and range in height from .

Its grey-green leaves are evenly spaced, elliptical, and lobed at the tips. The appearance of the 3–5 lobes at the tips of its leaves may range from being seemingly absent to being highly defined. Its leaves have been shown to contain thujone and cineole.

During its bloom period, which ranges from May to October, the plant features bell-shaped clusters of flowers containing 5–9 pistillate flowers and 6–25 disk flowers.

Although A. douglasiana can reproduce from seed, it is primarily propagated from division and spreading of its underground rhizomes. The extensive rhizomes help prevent erosion by stabilizing streambanks. A. douglasiana is susceptible to infection by Xylella fastidiosa which causes Pierce´s disease.
Galls: This species is host to the following insect and mite induced galls:
  • Aceria abalis Keifer leaf gall mite (see image)
  • Rhopalomyia occidentalis (Felt, 1916) leaf midge


Uses: Its seeds are foraged by a variety of native birds and its leaves are used as nesting material by some native bees.

Artemisia douglasiana is used by Native American tribes as a medicinal plant to relieve joint pain and headaches, and to treat abrasions and rashes (including poison ivy). It is also used to treat women´s reproductive issues, including irregular menstruation and is occasionally used as an abortifacient.

This plant also has ceremonial and spiritual purposes for many tribes. It is commonly carried to ward off spirits of the dead and was smoked or drunk as a tea to induce vivid dreams.

It is also planted by contemporary herbalists for both medicinal and spiritual uses.

Cultivation: Artemisia douglasiana is cultivated as an ornamental plant by specialty native plant nurseries, for planting in wildlife gardens, natural landscaping design, habitat restoration and erosion control projects.

Source: Wikipedia, article Artemisia douglasiana. Content adapted from Wikipedia, available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license. Accessed on 18/07/2026.





Geographic distribution


Loading map...




Species photographs

Count: 2

Foto
Photography ID: 638588
  Adult

Alunail@nds
La Rioja
Argentina
01/25/2020
Ramón Vera
Foto
Photography ID: 638585
  Adult

Alunail@nds
La Rioja
Argentina
01/25/2020
Ramón Vera


 Add a photography of this species






Species vocalizations

Last vocalizations published



 Add an audio of this species





Species videos

Last filmings published




 Add a film of this species





Species reports



 Detail of places sorted by number of records






Species records

Count: 1



Page 1 of 1
Record IDDateExact timeCountryProvince / departmentPlaceFilmedPhotographedRecorded vocalObservedHeardWounded or deadNumber of individualsUser or BibliographyDetail
230355425/01/2020ArgentinaLa RiojaAlunail@ndsRamón Vera
Page 1 of 1

 Add a record of this species

📖
Recommended citation
Please use the following reference when citing this species account.
EcoRegistros. 2026. Artemisia douglasiana – Species account. Accessed from www.ecoregistros.org on 04/10/2026.