Mugwort Artemisia vulgaris
Other Common Name(s):
Other plants called Mugwort:
- Phonetic Spelling
- ar-tem-EE-zee-ah vul-GAIR-iss
- Description
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Mugwort is a perennial weed in the daisy family. It typically grows in loamy or sandy soils in forested areas, coastal strands and along roadsides and does not tolerate wet soils with poor drainage. It spreads by rhizomes and can form dense mats. This plant has been listed as invasive in several states.
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Artemisia
- Species:
- vulgaris
- Family:
- Asteraceae
- Uses (Ethnobotany):
- A long history of use in herbal medicine. Leaf aroma helps repel insects.
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Root Cutting
- Seed
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Eurasia, Alaska
- Distribution:
- Eastern and central USA, NW USA and Canada
- Dimensions:
- Height: 2 ft. 0 in. - 5 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 3 ft. 0 in. - 6 ft. 0 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Perennial
- Weed
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- 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:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- 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
