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| Category: Shrub |
| Family: Asteraceae (Sunflowers) |
| Origin: Mediterranean (Europe) |
| Evergreen: Yes |
| Flower Color: Yellow |
| Bloomtime: Spring |
| Height: 4-6 feet |
| Width: 4-6 feet |
| Exposure: Full Sun |
| Summer Dry: Yes |
| Deer Tolerant: Yes |
| Irrigation (H2O Info): Low Water Needs |
| Winter Hardiness: 25-30° F |
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Artemisia arborescens (Large Wormwood) - A quick-growing dense, evergreen shrub to 4 to 6 feet tall by as wide with soft, white to silvery gray-green foliage that is deeply divided and with clusters of inconspicuous dull yellow flowers that appear in late spring. Plant in full sun to light shade in a well-draining soil and only an occasional deep watering once established. It is tolerant of a wide variety of cultural conditions including heat, drought, wind, salt air, and is cold hardy to at least 18° F (remains evergreen and no tip damage to 25° F). This is a great large plant for adding a contrasting color to the garden. It is a much bigger plant than the popular Artemisia 'Powis Castle', which we also grow and has larger and whiter leaves with more rounded lobes. Artemisia arborescens is native to rocky areas along the coasts of Portugal, Spain, France, Italy and Greece. The name for the genus likely honors Artemisia II of Caria, a botanist and medical researcher who died in 350 BC but whose name came from the Greek goddess Artemis, whom the Romans called Diana. The specific epithet means "woody" or "tree-like" in reference to this plants larger stature than most other plants in the genus. Large Wormwood, also called Tree Wormwood, Shrubby Wormwood, Shiva and Sheeba (Arabic), has been cultivated for its essential oil that is used in perfumes, soaps, insect repellant and with mint as a medicinal tea that is thought to calm digestive distress, but this practice should only be considered under supervision of a healthcare practitioner. We first got this plant in 1986 from Ray Walsh at his Wildwood Nursery in Upland, California and have grown it since 1988.
The information on this page is based on our library and online research as well as observations made of this plant as it grows in our nursery, in the nursery garden and in other gardens that we have visited. We have also incorporated comments received from others and always appreciate getting feedback of any kind from those who have some additional information, in particular if this information is contrary to what we have written or includes additional cultural tips that would aid others in growing Artemisia arborescens.
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