Wormwood (Artemisia absinthum)
At a glance
- Lifecycle
- Perennial (hardy)
- Exposure
- Full sun
- Frost limit
- −34.4 °C
Cultivation
Succeeds in any soil but it is best in a poor dry one with a warm aspect. Tolerates a pH in the range 4.8 to 8.2. Wormwood is occasionally grown in the herb garden, there are some named forms. This herb was at one time the principal flavouring in the liqueur 'Absinthe' but its use has now been banned in most countries since prolonged consumption can lead to chronic poisoning, epileptiform convulsions and degeneration of the central nervous system. The scent of the plant attracts dogs. Members of this genus are rarely if ever troubled by browsing deer.
Propagation
Seed - surface sow from late winter to early summer in a greenhouse. The seed usually germinates within 2 - 26 weeks at 15°c. When they are large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots. They can be planted out in the summer, or kept in pots in a cold frame for the winter and then planted out in the spring. Cuttings of half-ripe wood, July/August in a frame. Division in spring or autumn.
Edible uses
Leaves are occasionally used as a flavouring. Caution is advised, prolonged use is known to have a detrimental effect - see the notes above on toxicity[K].
Medicinal uses
Wormwood is a very bitter plant with a long history of use as a medicinal herb. It is valued especially for its tonic effect on the liver, gallbladder and digestive system, and for its vermicidal activity. The leaves and flowering shoots are anthelmintic, anti-inflammatory, antiseptic, antispasmodic, antitumor, carminative, cholagogue, emmenagogue, febrifuge, hypnotic, stimulant, stomachic, tonic and vermifuge. See also the notes above on toxicity. The extremely bitter leaves are chewed to stimulate the appetite. The plant is applied externally to bruises and bites. A homeopathic remedy is made from the leaves.
Material uses
The fresh or dried shoots are said to repel insects and mice.
Habitat
Waste land, rocks and screes.
Native range
Temperate regions of Europe and Asia, including Britain, north to Lapland and Siberia.