Artemisia vulgaris
Common Name(s):
- Phonetic Spelling
- ar-tem-EE-zee-ah vul-GAIR-iss
- Description
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Mugwort is a perennial flowering plant in the daisy family (Asteraceae) native to temperate Europe, Asia, North Africa, and Alaska, and is naturalized in North America, including North Carolina. It is considered an invasive weed in some areas and can be found growing along roadsides, waste places and uncultivated areas as meadows.
Mugwort grows 2 to 4 feet tall and spreads by rhizomes but rarely produces viable seeds in temperate areas. If plowed under, any piece of the root is capable of making a new plant. It prefers full sun, well-drained soil and alkaline soils.
The panicle of greenish-yellow or reddish-brown flowers appears in mid-summer to early fall above the lobed green leaves with woolly undersides. The plant has a long history of herbal use.
Control of the weed is by mowing to prevent seed formation, pulling of young plants and landscape fabric. Chemical control is with glyphosate, triclopyr or clopyralid plus a surfactant if desired.
Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: Root rot can occur in too moist soils. Common pests include aphids, mites, scale, and leaf beetles, although the fragrant leaves help deter them.
- See this plant in the following landscape:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Artemisia
- Species:
- vulgaris
- Family:
- Asteraceae
- Uses (Ethnobotany):
- Mugworts have been used medicinally and as culinary herbs. Leaf aroma helps repel insects.
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Root Cutting
- Seed
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Eurasia, Alaska, N. Africa
- Distribution:
- Eastern and central USA, NW USA and Canada
- Dimensions:
- Height: 2 ft. 0 in. - 4 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 3 ft. 0 in. - 6 ft. 0 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Perennial
- Weed
- Habit/Form:
- Erect
- Multi-stemmed
- Growth Rate:
- Rapid
- Maintenance:
- High
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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:
- Loam (Silt)
- Sand
- Shallow Rocky
- Soil pH:
- Neutral (6.0-8.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Occasionally Dry
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 3a, 3b, 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b
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Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Fall
- Fruit Type:
- Achene
- Fruit Description:
- Achene is small and lightweight and is blown by the wind.
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Gold/Yellow
- Green
- Purple/Lavender
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Insignificant
- Panicle
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Fall
- Summer
- Flower Shape:
- Tubular
- Flower Petals:
- Bracts
- Flower Size:
- < 1 inch
- Flower Description:
- Each flowerhead is 1/8" across or a little larger and consists of numerous rayless florets with thread-like pistils extending out from the center. They are egg-shaped and erect to drooping. Color is dull yellowish-green to reddish-brown. Blooms July-October.
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Leaves:
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Leaf Value To Gardener:
- Fragrant
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Alternate
- Leaf Shape:
- Elliptical
- Oblong
- Leaf Margin:
- Lobed
- Serrate
- Hairs Present:
- Yes
- Leaf Length:
- 1-3 inches
- Leaf Width:
- 1-3 inches
- Leaf Description:
- Basal leaves are elliptic, oblong, and deeply lobed. The leaves mid stem are elliptic to ovate, Up to 4 inches long and 2.5 inches wide and lobed pinnately or bipinnately. Leaf margins may be serrate. Undersides are paler with hairs.
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Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Purple/Lavender
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Cross Section:
- Angular
- Stem Surface:
- Hairy (pubescent)
- Stem Description:
- The purple-brown stems are largely hairless except on the flowering stems. They are angular and furrowed.
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Landscape:
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Deer
- Drought
- Dry Soil
- Rabbits
- Problems:
- Contact Dermatitis
- Weedy
