What is loose desert sage?

This is 1 oz of loose dried leaves of Artemisia tridentata, the silvery aromatic shrub of the American West known as desert sage, sagebrush, Great Basin sage, or big sagebrush. Despite the common name, it is not a true sage: Artemisia is the wormwood and mugwort genus in the Asteraceae family, while culinary sage and white sage belong to Salvia in the mint family.

About the plant

Sagebrush defines the high-desert steppe of the Great Basin, covering vast stretches of the western United States with silver-green foliage. The dried leaves carry a warm, herbaceous aroma with a peppery edge, sharper and more assertive than true sages. The plant is culturally significant to many Indigenous peoples of the American West, including the Shoshone and Paiute, with a documented history of ceremonial use. The sagebrush steppe itself has faced real pressure from development and grazing, which makes responsible sourcing worth caring about.

Why loose leaf?

The loose format lets you burn a small pinch at a time in a heatproof dish with sand or ash, rather than committing a whole bundle. A little goes a long way, so an ounce lasts.

Related botanicals

• Mugwort Smudge — a European Artemisia cousin in stick form.
• Loose White Sage — the true Salvia, also in loose form.

Format & size

Sold as a 1 oz pack of loose dried leaf. We make no health or therapeutic claims.

Storage

Store in an airtight container away from heat, light, and humidity to keep the aroma sharp.

Desert sage at a glance

Botanical name

Artemisia tridentata

Family

Asteraceae

Common names

Desert sage, sagebrush, Great Basin sage

Native region

Western North America

Aroma

Warm, herbaceous, a bit peppery

Form

Loose dried leaves, 1 oz