Coastal or California sagebrush is about three feet in height, and can be recognized by numerous gray-green leaves which are usually about one inch in length and very narrow.

Sagebrushes range from the lower coastal mesas and desert margins to high mountain sites. All can be recognized by their pungent aroma, although the leaves may vary greatly in size and shape among the various species. One form common to the lower elevations along the coast is the California sagebrush.