October Seed Collection Species

Cooler temperatures and fall colors adorning our western landscapes means it’s time to begin planning for sagebrush seed collections. There are 18 species of sagebrush (Artemesia spp.) across our western landscapes. Because sagebrush has high site fidelity, matching the appropriate species to the restoration site is particularly important for both initial establishment and long term persistence. Depending on species and location, sagebrush seed ripens between the end of September through November. Mountain sagebrush (Artemisia tridentata vaseyana) populations in northern Utah around 9,000 feet were in bloom at the end of September when these images were taken. We’ll often protect seedlings with Vexar tubing to limit browsing pressure during the first growing seasons.

Click here to download the Pocket Guide to Sagebrush from the Natural Resources Conservation Service.