Sagebrush (Artemesia californica) is common in both the Coastal Sage Scrub (soft chaparral) and the Hard Chaparral plant communities. Sagebrush is a grayish-green, much-branched, woody shrub that grows 2 - 5 feet tall. It has small, greenish-white flowers and blooms from late summer through February. The silver green leaves are sweetly fragrant when crushed. Sagebrush grows in full sun and is quite drought tolerant. It is also somewhat drought deciduous.   Artemisia is found in coastal areas on dry hillsides and also under oaks. Sagebrush is a member of the sunflower family.

As a dominant species and one of the tallest subshrubs in the coastal sage scrub community, California sagebrush provides thermal and escape cover for small birds and mammals. Many species of birds utilize it for roosting and nesting cover, including the California Gnatcatcher. Establishment and survival of coast live oak (Quercus agrifolia) seedlings were significantly greater under California sagebrush than in adjacent open areas.

Chumash Indians used California sagebrush for windbreaks and barricades. Branches were used as firesticks and arrow foreshafts. Poultices or hairwashes were applied for treating headaches. The shrubs were also used for ritual purification, especially in ceremonies relating to death. Plants were soaked in water used for ceremonial bathing or sprinkling, or were burned. Bundles of California sagebrush were erected along paths to shrines. Spanish settlers regarded California sagebrush as a panacea for most ailments. They drank tea made from the shrub to treat bronchial problems and used it externally as a wash for wounds and swellings. Early miners put California sagebrush sprays in their beds to repel fleas.

California sagebrush populations have greatly decreased in numbers on Santa Catalina and Santa Cruz Islands under heavy browsing by feral sheep and goats. On portions of these islands where livestock has been excluded, California sagebrush has rapidly colonized denuded areas. (http://www.fs.fed.us/database/feis/plants/shrub/artcal/)