Artemisia absinthium: Uses (Ethnobotany)
It was used medicinally to flavor the drink absinthe, which is illegal in many countries because of its strong hallucinogenic properties. However, it has a bitter flavor.
Plant Profile: Artemisia absinthium
Taxonomy: Artemisia absinthiumNames
Artemisia, Wormwood
Phonetic Spelling:ar-tem-EE-zee-ah ab-SIN-thee-um
Genus:Artemisia
Species:absinthium
Family:Asteraceae
INVASIVE PLANT ALERT in the Midwest US!
Advice: The plant's soft, gray leaves serve as an excellent backdrop for enhancing the vibrancy of more colorful blooms.
Habitat: Commonly found in disturbed sites and naturalized in abandoned areas throughout the northern US; also cultivated as ornamental landscaping.
Spacing: Requires a distance of 5 feet between plants.
Propagation: Seeds have a slow germination rate.
For additional details on Artemisia, click here.
Artemisia absinthium Feature Summary
Artemisia absinthium Image Gallery
Tags
#yellow
#poisonous
#full sun tolerant
#perennial
#gray
#gray leaves
#silver leaves
#yellow flowers
#silver
#summer flowers
#deer browsing plant
#ornamentals
#late summer flowers
#dry soils tolerant
Similar Plants
Artemisia absinthium is often confused with:
Artemisia absinthium Feature Summary
Attributes
It was used medicinally to flavor the drink absinthe, which is illegal in many countries because of its strong hallucinogenic properties. However, it has a bitter flavor.
Europe to Siberia and W. Himalaya
dry soil, deer damage
Seed
Stem Cutting
Division
Flowers
Flowers are small, drooping, and greenish-yellow. This plant's season is late summer.
Gold/Yellow
Green
Summer
Leaves
Leaves are silvery-green, alternate, and finely divided into blunt, narrow segments 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; however, the scent can be unpleasant when crushed.
Green
Gray/Silver
Alternate
Soft
Fragrant
Poisonous to Humans
TOXIC ONLY IF LARGE QUANTITIES EATEN. (Poisonous through ingestion. Poisonous parts: all parts). Symptoms: In the form of absinthe, an outlawed beverage, it can cause forgetfulness, delirium, convulsions, and brain damage. [Toxic if consumed in large quantity; It was used medicinally to flavor the drink absinthe, which is illegal in many countries because of its strong hallucinogenic properties.]
A monoterpene thujone
High
Seeds
Leaves
Stems
Flowers
Bark
Fruits
Roots
Whole Plant Traits
Perennial
Herbaceous Perennial
Poisonous
Herb
Cultural Conditions
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
3 feet-6 feet
Coastal
Mountains
Piedmont
4a
4b
5b
5a
6a
6b
7a
7b
8b
8a
3a
3b
9a
9b
Stem
Landscape
Deer
Dry Soil
Naturalized Area
Poisonous to Humans
Weedy
Problem for Children
Artemisia absinthium Image Gallery
Artemisia absinthium Attributes
Artemisia absinthium: Country Or Region Of Origin
Europe to Siberia and W. Himalaya
Artemisia absinthium: Particularly Resistant To (Insects/Diseases/Other Problems)
dry soil, deer damage
Artemisia absinthium: Recommended Propagation Strategy
Division
Grafting
Layering
Leaf Cutting
Root Cutting
Seed
Stem Cutting
Artemisia absinthium Flowers
Artemisia absinthium: Flower Description
Flowers are small, drooping, and greenish-yellow. This plant's season is late summer.
Artemisia absinthium: Flower Color
Gold/Yellow
Green
Artemisia absinthium: Flower Bloom Time
Winter
Spring
Summer
Fall
Artemisia absinthium Leaves
Artemisia absinthium: Leaf Description
Leaves are silvery-green, alternate, and finely divided into blunt, narrow segments 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; however, the scent can be unpleasant when crushed.
Artemisia absinthium: Leaf Color
Gray/Silver
Green
Artemisia absinthium: Leaf Arrangement
Alternate
Opposite
Other/more complex
Rosulate
Whorled
Artemisia absinthium: Hairs Present
No
Yes
Artemisia absinthium: Leaf Feel
Fleshy
Glossy
Leathery
Papery
Prickly
Rough
Rubbery
Slippery
Smooth
Soft
Velvety
Waxy
Artemisia absinthium: Leaf Value To Gardener
Edible
Fragrant
Good Cut
Good Dried
Long-lasting
Showy
Artemisia absinthium Poisonous to Humans
Artemisia absinthium: Poison Symptoms
TOXIC ONLY IF LARGE QUANTITIES EATEN. (Poisonous through ingestion. Poisonous parts: all parts). Symptoms: In the form of absinthe, an outlawed beverage, it can cause forgetfulness, delirium, convulsions, and brain damage. [Toxic if consumed in large quantity; It was used medicinally to flavor the drink absinthe, which is illegal in many countries because of its strong hallucinogenic properties.]
Artemisia absinthium: Poison Toxic Principle
A monoterpene thujone
Artemisia absinthium: Poison Severity
High
Low
Medium
Artemisia absinthium: Causes Contact Dermatitis
No
Yes
Artemisia absinthium: Poison Part
Bark
Flowers
Fruits
Leaves
Roots
Sap/Juice
Seeds
Stems
Artemisia absinthium Whole Plant Traits
Artemisia absinthium: Plant Type
Annual
Bulb
Carnivorous
Edible
Epiphyte
Fern
Ground Cover
Herb
Herbaceous Perennial
Houseplant
Mushroom
Native Plant
Ornamental Grasses and Sedges
Perennial
Poisonous
Rose
Shrub
Succulent
Tree
Turfgrass
Vegetable
Vine
Water Plant
Weed
Wildflower
Artemisia absinthium Cultural Conditions
Artemisia absinthium: Light
Dappled Sunlight (Shade through upper canopy all day)
Deep shade (Less than 2 hours to no direct sunlight)
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Artemisia absinthium: Available Space To Plant
12 inches-3 feet
12-24 feet
24-60 feet
3 feet-6 feet
6-feet-12 feet
Less than 12 inches
more than 60 feet
Artemisia absinthium: NC Region
Coastal
Mountains
Piedmont
Artemisia absinthium: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone
3a
3b
4a
4b
5a
5b
6a
6b
7a
7b
8a
8b
9a
9b
Artemisia absinthium Stem
Artemisia absinthium: Stem Is Aromatic
No
Yes
Artemisia absinthium Landscape
Artemisia absinthium: Resistance To Challenges
Black Walnut
Compaction
Deer
Diseases
Drought
Dry Soil
Erosion
Fire
Foot Traffic
Heat
Heavy Shade
Humidity
Insect Pests
Pollution
Poor Soil
Rabbits
Salt
Slugs
Squirrels
Storm damage
Urban Conditions
Voles
Wet Soil
Wind
Artemisia absinthium: Landscape Location
Coastal
Container
Hanging Baskets
Houseplants
Lawn
Meadow
Naturalized Area
Near Septic
Patio
Pond
Pool/Hardscape
Recreational Play Area
Riparian
Rock Wall
Slope/Bank
Small Space
Vertical Spaces
Walkways
Woodland
Artemisia absinthium: Problems
Allelopathic
Contact Dermatitis
Frequent Disease Problems
Frequent Insect Problems
Invasive Species
Malodorous
Messy
Poisonous to Humans
Problem for Cats
Problem for Children
Problem for Dogs
Problem for Horses
Short-lived
Spines/Thorns
Weak Wood
Weedy
