Artemisia pycnocephala

coastal sagewort

Artemisia pycnocephala, beach sagewort or coastal sagewort, is a Pacific coastal specialist of sandy strand and dune habitats in California and Oregon. Native-plant sources describe it as a dense silver ground-hugger suited to maritime gardens and restoration plantings, which gives the species a much clearer ecological identity than a plain distribution sentence.

Accepted name Artemisia pycnocephala

Subgenus Dracunculus

Section Latilobus

Range Native to California, Oregon

Habitat A perennial. Grows primarily in the temperate biome

Species-specific papers 0

Kew POWO taxon iNaturalist taxon iNaturalist observations GBIF species match

Open interactive species page Open live activity

Built from the current Artemisia.wiki dataset on 2026-03-18.

Research summary

Paper-backed research brief for Artemisia pycnocephala (coastal sagewort). The local cache does not yet attach species-specific paper-backed records, so the page still leans on genus-level reviews and comparative literature. The strongest recurring themes are phytochemistry, morphology, and identification. Key records include Global phylogeny and taxonomy of Artemisia, The Artemisia L. Genus: A Review of Bioactive Essential Oils, and The Genus Artemisia: A Comprehensive Review.

Global phylogeny and taxonomy of Artemisia
phylogeny, taxonomy, and classification
The Artemisia L. Genus: A Review of Bioactive Essential Oils
essential oils and phytochemistry
The Genus Artemisia: A Comprehensive Review
botany and phytochemistry

Authority records

Kew POWO taxon
Accepted-name status, distribution wording, and Kew catalogue context.
iNaturalist taxon
Current lineage placement and public observation context.
iNaturalist observations
Live public observation map for this taxon.
GBIF species match
Accepted-name cross-check and catalogue context.
Kew POWO search
Botanical cross-check for nomenclature and distribution.
Wikipedia article
General-reference article currently linked from the iNaturalist taxon page.

Curated literature

Global phylogeny and taxonomy of Artemisia
Large-scale phylogenomic and taxonomic treatment recognizing 8 subgenera and 24 sections across global Artemisia.
The Artemisia L. Genus: A Review of Bioactive Essential Oils
Broad review of essential-oil chemistry and anti-infective activity across Artemisia species, useful as a genus-level starting point.
The Genus Artemisia: A Comprehensive Review
Broad genus review covering botany, ethnopharmacology, phytochemistry, and therapeutic literature across Artemisia.

Evidence shelf

Kew POWO taxon
Accepted-name status, distribution wording, and Kew catalogue context.
iNaturalist taxon
Current lineage placement and public observation context.
iNaturalist observations
Live public observation map for this taxon.
GBIF species match
Accepted-name cross-check and catalogue context.
Kew POWO search
Botanical cross-check for nomenclature and distribution.
GBIF herbarium image
Reference image shown on this species page.
CNPS Artemisia in the Garden
Sandhill sage context, coastal strand identity, and horticultural use in sandy maritime settings.
Calflora illustrated list
Common names including beach sagewort and coastal sagewort.
Abad, M.J., Bedoya, L.M., Apaza, L. & Bermejo, P. (2012). The Artemisia L. Genus: A Review of Bioactive Essential Oils. Molecules 17(3): 2542-2566. DOI: 10.3390/molecules17032542.
Abad, M.J., Bedoya, L.M., Apaza, L. & Bermejo, P. (2012). The Artemisia L. Genus: A Review of Bioactive Essential Oils. Molecules 17(3): 2542-2566. DOI: 10.3390/molecules17032542.
Bora, K.S. & Sharma, A. (2011). The Genus Artemisia: A Comprehensive Review. Pharmaceutical Biology 49(1): 101-109. DOI: 10.3109/13880209.2010.497815.
Bora, K.S. & Sharma, A. (2011). The Genus Artemisia: A Comprehensive Review. Pharmaceutical Biology 49(1): 101-109. DOI: 10.3109/13880209.2010.497815.

Artemisia pycnocephala

Research summary

Authority records

Curated literature

Evidence shelf

Related species