Common Wormwood Artemisia absinthium
Other Common Name(s):
- Phonetic Spelling
- ar-tem-EE-zee-ah ab-SIN-thee-um
- This plant has low severity poison characteristics.
- See below
- Description
-
Absinthe, the herb used to flavor the drink of the same name, is an herbaceous perennial native to Eurasia. It can be weedy in disturbed areas and has been naturalized in waste places in the northern United States. In the landscape, it is used as a cultivated ornamental with Its soft, gray foliage; it makes a good choice for toning down brighter colored flowers. Consider planting it in borders, beds, or even rock gardens. It propagates by seed, though they germinate slowly.
Plant in full to part sun and well-drained, loam to loamy clay, moist to moderately dry soil– some gravel or poor fertility is okay. Space these plants 5 feet apart and they will grow to an average height of 3 feet tall. As they may become leggy in part sun or too fertile soil, pinching back the tips in spring will help promote shorter, bushier growth. Deadhead flowers to prevent self-seeding.
While Absinthe was once banned in the US from use in food and drink, the reasoning being that the compounds within were high enough quantities to be toxic, the ban has been lifted as of 2007.
Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: Absinthe is a food source for a number of aphid, moth, and grasshopper species, but its aromatics generally deter herbivorous mammals including rabbits and deer. Prone to root rot in wet soils. May struggle to thrive in NC's humid summers. This plant is a noxious weed in the Midwest.
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- Tags:
-
-
Attributes:
- Genus:
- Artemisia
- Species:
- absinthium
- Family:
- Asteraceae
- Uses (Ethnobotany):
- It was used medicinally to flavor the drink absinthe, and in seasonings for food and drink. It has a very bitter taste.
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Division
- Seed
- Stem Cutting
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Europe to Siberia and W. Himalaya
- Particularly Resistant To (Insects/Diseases/Other Problems):
- Dry and poor soil, erosion, deer and rabbit damage
- Dimensions:
- Height: 2 ft. 0 in. - 5 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 2 ft. 0 in. - 5 ft. 0 in.
-
-
Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Herb
- Herbaceous Perennial
- Poisonous
- Habit/Form:
- Clumping
- Erect
- Multi-stemmed
- Maintenance:
- Medium
-
-
Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
- Soil Texture:
- Clay
- Loam (Silt)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Moist
- Occasionally Dry
- Available Space To Plant:
- 3 feet-6 feet
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Mountains
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 3a, 3b, 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b
-
-
Fruit:
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Fall
- Summer
- Fruit Type:
- Achene
- Fruit Length:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Width:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Description:
- A type of achene called a cypsela, the fruits are very small and narrow. They are almost perfect cylinders, the top rounded and the bottom tapered.
-
-
Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Gold/Yellow
- Green
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Head
- Panicle
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Fall
- Summer
- Flower Size:
- < 1 inch
- Flower Description:
- Flowers are small, drooping heads of greenish-yellow florets. While the whole panicle can range from 4-8 inches by 4-5 inches in size, each individual floret is only 1-2 mm. Florets on the margins of each head only have pistils while the central flowers have bost pistils and stamens. This plant's season is late summer to early fall and blooms for about 2-3 weeks.
-
-
Leaves:
- Leaf Color:
- Gray/Silver
- Green
- Leaf Feel:
- Soft
- Leaf Value To Gardener:
- Fragrant
- Showy
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Alternate
- Leaf Shape:
- Elliptical
- Ovate
- Pinnatifid
- Pinnatisect
- Leaf Margin:
- Lobed
- Hairs Present:
- Yes
- Leaf Length:
- 1-3 inches
- Leaf Width:
- < 1 inch
- Leaf Description:
- Leaves are silvery-green, alternate, broadly ovate, and finely divided into blunt, narrow, pinnatifid segments. The length can reach between 1-3 inches with a width of roughly .5-1.5 inches and may differ in shape and size– basal leaves tend to be larger and more deeply lobed while upper leaves are smaller and more simple. The surfaces are covered with silvery hairs on both sides. Its soft, gray foliage makes it a good plant for toning down brighter colored flowers. The leaves of most species are strongly scented, almost sage-like; however, the scent can be unpleasant when crushed.
-
-
Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Gray/Silver
- Green
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- Yes
- Stem Cross Section:
- Round
- Stem Form:
- Straight
- Stem Surface:
- Hairy (pubescent)
- Stem Description:
- Grey-green stems that may be either smooth or covered in small, downy hairs. May develop some woodiness at the base and where the stems meet.
-
-
Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Naturalized Area
- Landscape Theme:
- Drought Tolerant Garden
- Edible Garden
- Design Feature:
- Border
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Deer
- Drought
- Dry Soil
- Erosion
- Poor Soil
- Rabbits
- Problems:
- Contact Dermatitis
- Poisonous to Humans
- Problem for Children
- Weedy
-
-
Poisonous to Humans:
- Poison Severity:
- Low
- Poison Symptoms:
- TOXIC ONLY IF LARGE QUANTITIES EATEN. Poisonous through ingestion. Overuse can lead to nervousness, stupor, convulsions, and potentially death. May cause contact dermatitis.
- Poison Toxic Principle:
- A monoterpene thujone, glycoside
- Causes Contact Dermatitis:
- Yes
- Poison Part:
- Bark
- Flowers
- Fruits
- Leaves
- Roots
- Seeds
- Stems
