Black sagebrush

Small flat-topped shrub up to 2 ft. tall with dark green evergreen leaves, flowering May to October. Most common on shallow, dry, infertile and coarse soils; 4,000 to 9,000 ft. elevation. Slightly salt tolerant; intolerant of moist sites. Often indicative of a root-restricting carbonate layer within 2 ft. of the soil surface. More drought tolerant than most other sagebrush species. Forms open, solid stands with very little other vegetation from valley bottoms to mountain slopes. Also occurs with Shadscale (Atriplex confertifolia), Winterfat (Krascheninikovia lanata) or as a minor component in big sagebrush (Artemisia tridentata), pinyon-juniper and mountain brush communities. Resembles and often grows with Low sagebrush (A. arbuscula). Intolerant of fire and disturbance. Preferred year-round forage for deer and antelope. Favored by sage-grouse.