Plant DetailShow Menu

Artemisia abrotanum

Phonetic Spelling
ar-tem-EE-zee-ah ab-ro-TAY-num
This plant has low severity poison characteristics.
See below
Description

Southernwood, is a shrub-like herbaceous perennial in the Asteraceae (daisy) family.  It is native to the Baltic States, but has been introduced in Eurasia, North America, and Africa. In the U.S. it is cultivated as an ornamental and may become a naturalized weed, particularly in disturbed areas. 

Upright branches with feathery gray-green leaves form bushy clumps noted for their pungent camphor-like scent.  It produces small, inconspicuous, pale-yellow flowers.  It is easily propagated by seed, root division, or by semi-hardwood stem-cuttings in late summer. Cutting plants back in the fall and dividing clumps every 3-4 years will help to maintain robust growth. 

Historically this plant has been used medicinally and due to its strong scent, was used as an air freshener, insect repellent, and moth repellent for wool clothing. Leaves retain their fragrance even after cutting and drying, making it suitable for use in potpourris and sachets to freshen air or clothing.  

This plant is very drought tolerant and requires a sunny location with well-drained soil.  It is suitable for xeriscape gardening, dry rocky slopes, borders, paths or other dry areas where other plants are difficult to grow. 

Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems:  Plants are susceptible to rot in moist, poorly drained soils but otherwise are generally disease free. 

More information on Artemisia.

See this plant in the following landscape:
Cultivars / Varieties:
Tags:
#fragrant#poisonous#full sun tolerant#drought tolerant#silver leaves#low maintenance#rabbit resistant#silver#summer flowers#deer resistant#ornamentals#dry soils tolerant#perennial#weed#herb garden
 
Cultivars / Varieties:
Tags:
#fragrant#poisonous#full sun tolerant#drought tolerant#silver leaves#low maintenance#rabbit resistant#silver#summer flowers#deer resistant#ornamentals#dry soils tolerant#perennial#weed#herb garden
  • Attributes:
    Genus:
    Artemisia
    Species:
    abrotanum
    Family:
    Asteraceae
    Uses (Ethnobotany):
    Historically used medicinally and herbal teas. Used dried plants to repel insects and clothing moths. Extracted dye was used for dying wool clothing.
    Life Cycle:
    Perennial
    Recommended Propagation Strategy:
    Division
    Seed
    Stem Cutting
    Country Or Region Of Origin:
    Baltic States, France, Italy, Spain, Yugoslavia
    Distribution:
    Canada, Europe, Great Britain, Kazakhstan, United States, Turkey, Ukraine, West Siberia, Yemen
    Play Value:
    Defines Paths
    Fragrance
    Particularly Resistant To (Insects/Diseases/Other Problems):
    drought, dry soil, rabbit, deer
    Dimensions:
    Height: 2 ft. 0 in. - 4 ft. 0 in.
    Width: 2 ft. 0 in. - 3 ft. 0 in.
  • Whole Plant Traits:
    Plant Type:
    Herb
    Herbaceous Perennial
    Perennial
    Poisonous
    Habit/Form:
    Clumping
    Erect
    Growth Rate:
    Medium
    Maintenance:
    Low
    Texture:
    Fine
  • Cultural Conditions:
    Light:
    Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
    Soil Texture:
    High Organic Matter
    Loam (Silt)
    Sand
    Shallow Rocky
    Soil pH:
    Acid (<6.0)
    Alkaline (>8.0)
    Neutral (6.0-8.0)
    Soil Drainage:
    Good Drainage
    Very Dry
    Available Space To Plant:
    12 inches-3 feet
    NC Region:
    Coastal
    Mountains
    Piedmont
    USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
    4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b
  • Flowers:
    Flower Color:
    Gold/Yellow
    Green
    White
    Flower Inflorescence:
    Panicle
    Flower Bloom Time:
    Summer
    Flower Shape:
    Cup
    Flower Size:
    < 1 inch
    Flower Description:
    Flowers are small, inconspicuous, drooping, and greenish-yellow or whitish-yellow.
  • Leaves:
    Leaf Color:
    Gray/Silver
    Green
    Leaf Feel:
    Soft
    Leaf Value To Gardener:
    Fragrant
    Good Dried
    Leaf Arrangement:
    Alternate
    Leaf Shape:
    Oblanceolate
    Ovate
    Pinnatifid
    Leaf Margin:
    Lobed
    Hairs Present:
    Yes
    Leaf Length:
    1-3 inches
    Leaf Width:
    < 1 inch
    Leaf Description:
    Leaves are small and feathery, green or gray-green, alternate, and finely divided into linear or filiform lobes with a smooth or sparsely hairy surface.
  • Stem:
    Stem Is Aromatic:
    No
  • Landscape:
    Landscape Location:
    Container
    Naturalized Area
    Landscape Theme:
    Cottage Garden
    Cutting Garden
    Drought Tolerant Garden
    Rock Garden
    Design Feature:
    Border
    Hedge
    Resistance To Challenges:
    Deer
    Drought
    Dry Soil
    Rabbits
    Problems:
    Poisonous to Humans
    Weedy
  • Poisonous to Humans:
    Poison Severity:
    Low
    Poison Symptoms:
    Toxic only if large quantities are eaten.
    Poison Toxic Principle:
    A monoterpene thujone
    Causes Contact Dermatitis:
    No
    Poison Part:
    Bark
    Flowers
    Fruits
    Leaves
    Roots
    Seeds
    Stems