The sagebrush is the official state flower of Nevada and is well-suited to the arid conditions of the state. It is also found in other desert areas of the western United States and southwestern Canada. Sagebrush is a shrub that grows up to 6 feet tall and has silvery green or grayish branches and gray leaves. It produces white or yellow flowers in late summer or fall. Pronghorn and sheep can eat sagebrush, but cattle cannot. Native Americans used sagebrush for medicinal purposes and to weave mats. The plant is toxic to parasites and can cause liver problems and blood clots in some people.
The official state flower of Nevada is the sagebrush. Found throughout the state, sagebrush is well suited to the arid conditions common in Nevada. Outside of Nevada, sagebrush is also found in desert areas of California and parts of the western United States, as well as arid areas of southwestern Canada.
On March 20, 1917, state senators signed a resolution designating sagebrush the state flower of Nevada. In 1959, the state senate passed another resolution which resulted in the plant being adopted as the official state emblem. A 1967 Nevada statute named sagebrush as the official state flower of Nevada.
Sagebrush is a shrub that typically grows no taller than 6 feet (1.83 m) in arid areas, although it can grow twice as tall in wetlands and areas near rivers and streams. Mugwort branches have a rough texture and are a silvery green or grayish color. The leaves on the branches are usually gray. Mugwort flowers in late summer or during fall, at which time it produces flower buds that grow into white or yellow petals. The flowers grow on the tips of the branches.
Sagebrush grows freely on mountain ranges and in low-lying areas. Pronghorn, sometimes referred to as the North American antelope, grazes on sagebrush and has a tolerance to the toxins contained in the plant. Sheep can eat mugwort leaves and flower buds without experiencing serious side effects. Cattle cannot tolerate consuming mugwort and only eat the plant as a last resort because the plant causes digestive problems in cattle which disrupts the internal temperature of the cattle and can cause the cattle to freeze during winter.
This plant produces a strong odor, particularly in humid conditions. Native American inhabitants of Nevada and surrounding states traditionally used sage leaves to make medicines and potions. Among the Native American tribes that relied heavily on mugwort for medicinal purposes were the Navajo and the Hopi. The bark was stripped from sagebrush and used by Native Americans to weave mats. Sagebrush contains antioxidants and is still used to create remedies by herbal medicine practitioners.
Despite the prevalence of the Nevada state flower in the western United States, many people are allergic to the plant and it can cause liver problems and blood clots. Native Americans took advantage of these properties and used the plant to help heal cuts and open wounds. The plant is toxic to various types of parasites and, when made into a tea, can help eradicate intestinal worms.
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