sagebrush, any of various shrubby species of the genus Artemisia (formerly in Seriphidium) of the aster family (Asteraceae). They are native to semiarid plains and mountain slopes of western North America. Sagebrush plants dominate the landscape in some areas and provide important habitat for a number of species, including sage grouse and pronghorn.
The common sagebrush, or big sagebrush (A. tridentata), is a many-branched shrub, usually 1 to 2 metres (about 3 to 6.5 feet) high, with silvery gray bitter-aromatic foliage. The small wedge-shaped leaves usually have three teeth at the outer end.