ARTEMISIA / Artemisia spp. Family: Asteraceae (Compositae) Botanical Name: Artemisia spp. Common Names: Species-specific Life span: Mostly perennials or tender perennials; rarely annuals Hardiness: Most hardy from Zone 4-10 Light: Full sun to light shade Soil: Well-drained; tolerates most; pH 4.9 to 7.5, average 6.9 Water: Many are drought tolerant Uses: Culinary, medicinal, beverage, aromatic, industrial Propagation: Cuttings or divisions; seed Introduction (Jeremiah 23:15 KJV) number of species are silvery white or gray Artemisias belong to the Asteraceae, a Historically, Artemisias were used as green, although many are darker green family of plants which also includes asters strewing herbs to repel insects. They and some are brown-purple. The leaves and daisies; however, Artemisia flowers, were also ingested to destroy parasitic have fine hairs which cool and defend though typical, are usually quite small. worms. Small oral doses of powdered the plants from extreme heat and help There are over 300 species in the genus, leaves or roots were considered antidotes them survive adverse conditions. As in distinguished by the silkiness and for mushroom and hemlock poison- other plants, white varieties are more heat divisions of their leaves and the ing. Other treatments using wormwood and drought tolerant than their greener arrangements of their flowers. With the included digestive tract cure-alls, women’s cousins. exception of several species in tropical conditions, fevers, gout, malaria, appetite Aroma: Many Artemisias are highly environs, the genus originated in and stimulant, and, according to Dioscorides, fragrant due to the presence of cineole. mostly belongs to the drier climes of the intoxication. Native Americans used The aroma of each species is distinctive Northern Hemisphere (Watson, p. 4). various species of Artemisia to treat some camphor-like, clean and refreshing; worms, sprains, colds, flu, tuberculosis, some spicy and pleasant; some acrid and History and Lore cancer, fever, asthma, gynecological disagreeable. The generic name, Artemisia, may have disorders, rashes, and many other Hardiness: Hardy as far north as been inspired by Artemis, the Greek conditions. Some tribes also used them as Maine in the U.S. (Zone 5) goddess of hunting, the moon, and ceremonial medicines. In modern usage, Exposure: Sun, semi-shade; although chastity, but it is also possible that it was Artemisia continues to be a vermifuge and most prefer full sun. inspired more directly by Queen Artemisia repellent. Soil: Artemisias do not like clay or rich of Caria (Helicarnassus), a Turkish soil and cannot stand sodden roots. A botanist who lived about 400 B.C.E. Plant Characteristics well-drained, sunlit spot with a soil in the (Tucker & DeBaggio, p. 159). Life span: Depending on the species, neutral pH range is ideal. There are various references to Artemisia Artemisias are perennial, tender perennial, Light: Artemisias will not survive deep in the Bible as wormwood in both the Old or rarely annual. shade, but can tolerate semi-shade as long and New Testaments. These may refer to Plant form: Shrub as they have several hours of sun a day. either A. judaica or A. herba-alba. “…and Size: Ranges from small 6 to 8 inch Drought and moisture tolerance: A good the third part of the waters became worm- mounds to erect stems and branches drink once a week during a drought and wood; and many men died of the waters, reaching up to 10 feet in height. Most none during prolonged rainy periods will because they were made bitter”. garden varieties are between 1 and 4 feet keep these plants happy. (Revelation 8:11 King James Version) tall with a 3-foot spread. Propagation and pruning: Propagate Artemisias are among the bitterest of Flowers: Arranged in panicles or umbels; from stem tip cuttings or layering. Prune herbs due to their thujone content. although some are attractive, most are heavily in early spring to maintain a Because of their bitterness and assumed very small, mainly pale yellow to bright compact form. toxicity, they became associated with yellow, and relatively insignificant. Deer resistance: Because the fragrance sadness, suffering, and misfortune. Foliage: Pinnate leaves range from almost of Artemisias can be unpleasant and their “Behold I will feed them with wormwood, filigree to sturdily broad and raggedly taste so bitter, deer, rabbits and other and make them drink the water of gall…” erose (irregularly toothed). The leaves of a “critters” inherently avoid them. Herbal Uses clusters of uneven lengths were placed in humid climates but does not have GRAS Not all Artemisias are herbal, but those closets as a moth repellent. A. abrotanum status. Russian tarragon, which shares the that are have many uses. ‘Silver’ is a very hairy cultivar. same botanical name as French tarragon, Beverage: A. absinthium (wormwood) is a grows vigorously from seed but has a flavoring ingredient in absinthe liqueur. A. absinthium (wormwood): Wormwood balsamic leather odor and should not be Crafts: Many Artemisias are useful in can eliminate the common roundworm used for flavoring food. dried flower arrangements and wreaths, and has been used against fungal potpourri, and moth and mosquito infections of the skin. It is still used in Not yet cultivated in North repellents. To dry easily and rapidly, the some topical antifungal preparations. It America branches or stems should be fanned out, is toxic to mites (Tucker & DeBaggio, pp. A. genipi (genépi): Growing wild in the not bunched, and hung out of strong 162-63). At one point, absinthe liqueur Alps of Europe, genépi has a fine odor and sunlight in a dry space was banned because it was believed to is used in some liqueurs, as is A. glacialis with good air circulation. be hallucinogenic due to its thujone (genépi des glaciers). Culinary: content. At present, low doses of thujone- A. dracunculus (French free wormwood are considered GRAS A. herba-alba (armoise): Meaning “white tarragon) is a key (generally recognized as safe) herb” in Latin, armoise is primarily used component of Sauce (Tucker & DeBaggio, pp. 161-162). for perfume. It is fragrant, antibacterial, Béarnaise and French salad anti-spasmodic and historically dressing. The leaves of this A. annua (sweet Annie, sweet interesting. species are used to flavor wormwood): A large, bushy plant with poultry dishes and to make finely divided strongly-scented leaves. It A. maritima (Levant wormseed): Levant tarragon vinegar. It is can cause allergic reactions and headache. wormseed is sometimes used in Middle important to use a plant The oil of sweet Annie is antimalarial, Eastern cooking. grown from a division or antifungal, antibacterial, and antioxidant. cutting rather than from A. annua grows readily from seed and A. pallens (davana): The specific epithet seed. will reseed itself. Its copious foliage and pallens refers to its gray foliage. Used strong fragrance make it popular for dried to flavor beverages, candies, tobacco, Fragrance: Oils of Artemisia are used in wreaths. Its pollen can be especially and baked goods, in India for garlands cosmetics and aromatherapy. allergenic. and bouquets, and in folk medicine for Medicinal: Some species have proven to diabetes. It is easily propagated from seed be antimalarial (A. annua), and antifungal A. arborescens (tree wormwood): One (Tucker & DeBaggio, p. 167). (A. absinthium). parent of A. ‘Powis Castle’, a very popular grey-white cultivar, A. aborescens has been Toxicity used successfully to treat inflamed skin There must be a caveat and caution added conditions (Pappas & Sheppard-Hanger). References to any document describing historical Bown, D. 1995. The Herb Society of medicinal uses of any herb. These are A. dracunculus (tarragon): Dracunculus America encyclopedia of herbs practices passed down from centuries of means “little dragon.” The Arabic name and their uses. New York: use, long ago evaluated and, in many cases, translates as dragonwort (Tucker & Dorling-Kindersley. long ago dismissed for their potential to DeBaggio, p. 164). French tarragon Pappas, R., & S. Sheppard-Hanger. do more harm than good. Artemisias can (sometimes designated as the cultivar 2000. Artemisia arborescens – produce allergic reactions, causing rashes ‘Sativa’ and preferred for culinary use) is essential oil of the Pacific and congestion in some individuals merely seed sterile and must be grown from stem Northwest: a high-chamazulene, from handling them, and Artemisia pollen tip cuttings, root cuttings, or divisions. low-thujone essential oil with is a significant allergen in the U.S. and Tip cuttings are less likely to spread potential skin-care applications. Europe. However, Artemisias still have diseases and insects. Tarragon looks Aromather. J. 10:30-33. ongoing potential for medicinal usage in fragile but can withstand drought and Tucker, A.O., & T. DeBaggio. 2009. the modern world. excessive heat (but not high humidity The encyclopedia of herbs. or poor air circulation). It can also be Portland, OR: Timber Press. Some Species of Note susceptible to rust and nematodes. Watson, B. (Ed.). “The Herb A. abrotanum (southernwood) (also Mexican tarragon (Tagetes lucida), which Society of America’s Essential Guide called old man, Lad’s love, and maiden’s is not an Artemisia, is sometimes to Artemisia”. (working paper, The ruin): Southernwood’s strongly-scented, substituted for French tarragon. It grows Herb Society of America, Kirtland, OH, graying sage-green leaves arranged in better than French tarragon in warm, 2014) Medicinal Disclaimer – It is the policy of The Herb Society of America not to advise or recommend herbs for medicinal or health use. This information is intended for educational purposes only and should not be considered as a recommendation or an endorsement of any particular medical or health treatment. 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