Bonneville Big Sagebrush: A Unique Western Native Worth Knowing
If you’re passionate about native plants and live in the western United States, you might have come across the intriguingly named Bonneville big sagebrush (Artemisia tridentata ×bonnevillensis). This distinctive shrub represents a fascinating piece of our native flora, though it’s admittedly one of the more mysterious members of the sagebrush family.
What Makes Bonneville Big Sagebrush Special?
Bonneville big sagebrush is a perennial, multi-stemmed woody shrub that’s native to the lower 48 states. Like other members of the sagebrush family, it’s built to last, with a sturdy growth habit that typically keeps it under 13 to 16 feet in height. Most specimens you’ll encounter will have several stems emerging from or near ground level, giving them that classic bushy sagebrush appearance we associate with the American West.
Where Does It Call Home?
This particular sagebrush has a fairly limited native range, naturally occurring in Idaho and Utah. If you’re gardening in these states, you’re in the lucky position of being able to grow a plant that truly belongs to your local ecosystem.
Should You Plant Bonneville Big Sagebrush?
Here’s where things get a bit tricky – and honestly, pretty interesting from a plant nerd perspective. Bonneville big sagebrush appears to be quite rare in cultivation and garden centers. You’re unlikely to stumble across it at your local nursery, which makes it something of a specialist’s plant.
As a native species, it offers several potential benefits:
- Perfectly adapted to local growing conditions in its native range
- Likely provides habitat and food sources for local wildlife
- Requires minimal water once established (typical of sagebrush species)
- Adds authentic regional character to native plant gardens
The Growing Challenge
If you’re determined to add this plant to your garden, you’ll need to do some detective work. Specific growing information for Bonneville big sagebrush is quite limited, which suggests it’s either very specialized in its requirements or simply hasn’t been widely studied for horticultural use.
Based on its sagebrush heritage, it likely prefers:
- Well-draining, possibly alkaline soils
- Full sun exposure
- Low to moderate water requirements once established
- Good air circulation
A Word of Caution and Alternatives
Given the limited availability and information about this specific plant, you might want to consider other well-documented native sagebrush species for your garden. Big sagebrush (Artemisia tridentata) and other regional Artemisia species are more readily available and have well-established growing guidelines.
The Bottom Line
Bonneville big sagebrush represents an intriguing piece of western native flora, but it’s definitely a plant for the dedicated native plant enthusiast rather than the casual gardener. If you’re in Idaho or Utah and committed to growing only plants native to your immediate area, it might be worth seeking out through specialized native plant societies or seed exchanges. However, for most gardeners interested in sagebrush, there are more readily available and better-documented alternatives that will give you similar benefits with much less guesswork.
Sometimes the most interesting plants are the ones that keep a little mystery about them – and Bonneville big sagebrush certainly fits that bill!
