Perennials, 15-40(-70) cm, faintly aromatic (rhizomatous). Stems mostly 3-8, ascending, brown to gray-green, simple (bases curved, somewhat woody), sparsely to densely tomentose. Leaves cauline, bicolor (± gray-green); blades narrowly elliptic, 0.1-2.5(-3) × 0.5-1 cm (gradually smaller distally), relatively deeply pinnatifid (lobes 3-5), faces densely tomentose (abaxial) to sparsely hairy (adaxial). Heads (usually nodding) in (leafy) paniculiform arrays 10-30 × 3-9 cm (branches erect). Involucres campanulate, 2-2.5(-3) × 1.5-3 mm. Phyllaries lanceolate, gray-tomentose. Florets: pistillate 1-5; bisexual 7-25; corollas pale yellow, 1-2 mm, glandular-pubescent. Cypselae (light brown) cylindro-elliptic, ca. 0.5 mm, (curved at summits, scarcely nerved), glabrous (shining). 2n = 18. Flowering mid summer-early fall. Open sites, usually sandy soils, wooded areas, grasslands, railroads; 600-2900 m; Ariz., Colo., Kans., Mich., Mo., N.Mex., Okla., Tex., Utah; Mexico (Chihuahua, Sonora). Artemisia carruthii is closely related to members of the A. ludoviciana complex, with which it may intergrade.

References: AZ Flora: Kearney and Peebles, Seed Plants of N. AZ: McDougall, ASU Specimens