Artemisia vulgaris

About this cultivar:

Artemisia vulgaris is commonly called mugwort but is also occasionally known as riverside wormwood, felon herb, chrysanthemum weed, wild wormwood, old Uncle Henry, sailor's tobacco, naughty man, old man or St. John's plant (not to be confused with St John's wort). Perhaps it could be accused of identity fraud

Mugworts have been used medicinally and as culinary herbs for centuries. Usually for pain relief, treatment of fever, and as a diuretic. My favourite - traditionally, it was, and is, used as one of the flavouring and bittering agents of gruit ales, a type of non-hopped, fermented grain beverage.

Native to much of the northern hemisphere it is a very common plant growing on nitrogenous soils, like weedy and uncultivated areas, such as waste places and roadsides. It definitely has a wild feel. I think the long reddish stems look great in dried flower displays after they have finished flowering.

• Position: Full sun, partial shade
• Soil: Almost any soil that is reasonably well drained, dry soil
• Flowers: August, September, October
• Other features: Interesting Foliage or Fruit, Scented
• Hardiness: H5 - Hardy in most places throughout the UK even in severe winters (-15 to -10°C)
• Habit: Bushy, Columnar or Upright
• Foliage: Semi evergreen
• Height: 150 to 200 cm  (5 - 7 ft)
• Spread: 150 to 200 cm  (5 - 7 ft)
• Time to full growth: 5 to 10 years
• Plant type: Herbaceous Perennial, Shrub
• Colour: Green, Silver, white, pink
• Goes well with: Paths, front of borders

About this genus:

Artemisia is a large, diverse genus of plants with between 200 and 400 species belonging to the daisy family (Asteraceae). The name ultimately derives from Artemis, the Greek goddess of the moon, wild animals, and hunting. A more specific reference may be to Artemisia I (or II) of Caria – both Queens and successful Naval Strategists! Common names for various species in the genus include mugwort, wormwood, and sagebrush.

Artemisia comprises hardy herbaceous plants and shrubs that grow in temperate climates of both hemispheres, usually in dry or semiarid habitats. The leaves of many species are covered with white hairs.

It has been mentioned in popular culture for centuries. Artemisia vulgaris (mugwort) was used to repel midges (mug = midge), fleas and moths, intestinal worms, and in brewing as a remedy against hangovers and nightmares. Perhaps caused by drinking absinthe… which Artemisia absinthium is used to make!

Most species have an extremely bitter taste, which discourages herbivory, and may have had a selective advantage. In Shakespeare's Hamlet, the titular character says "Wormwood, wormwood" to comment on the bitter implications of what the Player Queen has just said. Wormwood is even mentioned seven times in the Jewish Bible, always with the implication of bitterness! However, the species dracunculus (tarragon) is widely used as a culinary herb. Other species are used to treat malaria and as sedative.

In the garden they tend to prefer full sun and free draining soil, but most we sell should be fine anywhere – we don’t sell much to Greece. Great for foliage and the front of the border. The small wind-pollinated flowers are also fun!

The largest collection of living Artemisia species, subspecies and cultivars is held in the National Collection of Artemisia in Sidmouth, Devon, UK, which holds about 400 taxa.