Wormwood Artemisia 'Powis Castle'

Artemisia ‘Powis Castle’ is a shrub-like herbaceous perennial in the sunflower family.  This cultivar is likely a hybrid between Artemisia arborescens and Artemisia absinthium introduced in 1972 from the National Trusts’ Powis Castle in Wales.  This hybrid, selected by British gardener A. J. Hancock in the late 1960's, was propagated to line walls and terraces surrounding the castle and later sold to promote the National Trust gardens. It is noted for its finely textured, silver-gray, aromatic foliage that grows in upright, spreading mounds.   In milder climates, foliage remains in leaf year-round.   It requires full sun, well-drained soil, and tolerates drought. Plants are prone to rot if conditions are too wet and foliage may also decline during hot, humid summers.  This plant rarely blooms, but inconspicuous flowers sometimes appear in late summer.  Growth spreads by rhizomes.  Individual mounds are about 2 feet wide, but unrestrained rhizome growth can spread mounds to widths of 6 feet.  This easily grown plant makes an attractive ground cover for borders, beds, rock gardens, xeriscapes, and urban locations.  Its fern-like leaves add color and texture to a landscape to accentuate perennial flowers or ornamental grasses.

Quick ID Hints:

• Bushy mound of silvery, dissected foliage.
• Leaves silvery-tomentose, finely dissected
• Flowers yellow in minute, drooping heads

More information on Artemisia.