Description

California sagebrush is common in sunny locations of the coastal mountains from the greater SF Bay Area southward into northwestern Baja. The ‘Canyon Gray’ selection was introduced by the Santa Barbara Botanic Garden after it was discovered on little San Miguel Island off the coast from Gaviota. Battering winds on the Channel Islands have encouraged flora to develop low, “crouching” forms. A couple other interesting examples are the prostrate varieties of chamise, Adenostoma fasciculatum, and Saint Catherine’s Lace, Eriogonum giganteum. California sagebrush typically grows as an upright shrub to about four feet in height, but the ‘Canyon Gray’ selection grows to no more than two feet with weeping, trailing branches of finely dissected, white-green leaves. The ground-hugging branches can fill quite an area - up to ten feet. ‘Canyon Gray’ sagebrush appreciates well-draining soil and is quite drought tolerant. It will look its best, however, with occasional summer water. Artemisia californica is semi-dormant by the end of summer without supplemental irrigation.