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| Category: Shrub |
| Family: Asteraceae (Sunflowers) |
| Origin: Europe, Southern (Europe) |
| Evergreen: Yes |
| Flower Color: Yellow |
| Bloomtime: Not Significant |
| Synonyms: [A. arborescens 'Brass Band', A. 'Faith Raven'] |
| Parentage: (A. absinthium x A. arborescens) |
| Height: 2-4 feet |
| Width: 4-6 feet |
| Exposure: Sun or Shade |
| Deer Tolerant: Yes |
| Irrigation (H2O Info): Medium Water Needs |
| Winter Hardiness: <15° F |
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Artemisia 'Powis Castle' (Wormwood) - An evergreen low shrub that grows 3 feet tall by at least twice as wide with a naturally mounding form. It has finely divided foliage that is pleasantly aromatic and held in fairly flat sprays. In summer into fall appear a light bloom of small yellow flowers that are not conspicuous. Plant in full sun or part shade in a well-drained soil with moderate, occasional to infrequent watering – moderately drought tolerant but looks better with supplementary irrigation in our mediterranean climate. Hardy to - 15 degrees F and useful in USDA Zones 4-10. Prune in early spring or lightly shear at other times to keep a nice shape or to keep plant more dense - old unpruned plants can open up in the middle to expose stems. This artemisia is noted as having a more compact habit and a softer appearance than Artemisia arborescens and is useful for its texture and foliage color both as a garden plant or in containers. The plant does not flower much and even when it does the yellow flowers are hardly noticeable so this plant is really only planted for its attractive foliage. Originally taken as a cutting from a garden plant in Wakefield, West Yorkshire by Jimmy Hancock sometime around 1969-71. Mr Hancock later became the head gardener at the National Trust's Powis Castle in Wales and introduced this plant from there in 1972. In 1993 it received the coveted Royal Horticulture Society's Award of Garden Merit. Artemisia 'Powis Castle' is believed to be a hybrid between the Absinthe Wormwood, Artemisia absinthium, and Large Wormwood, A. arborescens, based on the newly emerging green leaves resembling the former while the mature leaves the latter. DNA research described in an article titled "Genome size variation in the Artemisia arborescens complex (Asteraceae, Anthemideae) and Cultivars" by Sònia Garcia, Teresa Garnatje, John D Twibell and Joan Vallès in Genome, 2006, 49(3): 244-253, seems to support this idea and also determined that the A. arborescens 'Brass Band' and A. 'Faith Raven' are likely the same as 'Powis Castle'. 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. We first started growing this great plant in 1989.
Information displayed on this page about Artemisia 'Powis Castle' is based on the research conducted about it in our library and from reliable online resources. We also note those observations we have made of this plant as it grows in the nursery's garden and in other gardens, as well how crops have performed in our nursery field. We will incorporate comments we receive from others, and welcome to hear from anyone who may have additional information, particularly if they share any cultural information that would aid others in growing it.
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