Sagebrushes are woody shrubs with hairy, silvery leaves that stay green all year round. They're normally 2-4 ft high but can be taller. They have a gray twisted trunk and branches with stringy, fragile bark. Small yellow flowers appear in late summer or early fall. They have a deep taproot that can gather water from far below the surface.
Sagebrushes are usually found in cold deserts with sandy or powdery soil and have a sharp odor (turpentine and camphor), especially after it rains.
Did you know? Sagebrushes provide food and habitat for many creatures, including Sage Grouse, Deer, Elk, Pronghorns, Bighorn Sheep, and Jack Rabbits.
Easy - numerous and usually easy to spot
in the habitats listed at the appropriate time of
year.
Deserts are dry areas covered with sand or
rocks and with very few plants. There is
limited rainfall and it's usually very hot.
Grasslands are large open areas covered with
grasses. They have very few trees or shrubs.
This habitat includes prairies and tundra.