Wormwood

Wormwood (Artemisia absinthium) is a silver grey, aromatic herb for dry, sunny gardens. It makes a bushy plant about 1m tall and wide, with finely divided leaves and tiny nodding yellow flowers on long shoots in summer. It is tough, cold hardy and drought tolerant, and it is the plant behind absinthe.

Why you'll love it

• Soft silver grey foliage. The finely cut, aromatic leaves give a cool, ghostly colour that calms hot beds and sets off darker neighbours.
• Drought tolerant. Once established it copes with long dry spells, which suits dry climate and waterwise gardens.
• Cold hardy. It is frost hardy and happy through cold winters, shooting again in spring.
• Poor ground, no problem. It is a pioneer plant, at home on uncultivated ground, and it is happy in alkaline soil.
• A plant with a past. Wormwood has grown around rocky sites and settlements for centuries and is the herb behind absinthe. We sell it as a garden ornamental, not as a remedy.

Where it works best

Dry climate and waterwise gardens. Plant it singly, giving each plant about a metre of space. It anchors a dry bed with grey foliage and needs very little water once settled.

Mediterranean and cottage gardens. The silver foliage pairs well with lavender, rosemary and gravel mulch, and the soft texture suits informal plantings.

Rock gardens and sunny banks. Set against stone, the grey leaves look at home, and the plant tolerates the poor, free draining soil of a rockery.

Growing Wormwood in Australia

Position and climate. Full sun. It is frost hardy and drought hardy, so it suits cool temperate, warm temperate, Mediterranean and arid gardens. It is a bushy perennial in cold climates and a woody evergreen in milder ones. In humid coastal gardens it can sulk through wet summers, so give it the sunniest, best drained spot.

Soil. Light, well drained soil. It is happy in alkaline ground. If you plant more than one artemisia, space them well apart, as they do not like growing alongside each other.

Water and feed. Water to help it establish, then leave it to the weather. Skip rich feeding, which makes soft, floppy growth and weakens the silver colour.

Pruning. When new shoots emerge in spring, cut the old shoots down to near the base of the plant. That keeps it compact and renews the foliage each year.

What to expect when it arrives

We sell Wormwood as tube stock, a young plant in an 80mm deep tube that establishes quickly in warm soil. It arrives as a small tuft of grey leaves and bulks up through its first season. Tube stock comes from our grower and is not always available. When the grower has none, the tube shows as sold out, and the notify button on the page emails you the day it is back.

Plants travel upright. Plant out promptly into well drained soil in full sun, and water in once.

Plants are delivered Australia wide, with delivery from $29.95. Every plant is covered by our 30 day healthy plant guarantee.

Plant care guides and related reading

• Drought tolerant plants
• Rockery plants
• Lavender for a Mediterranean border
• A guide to creating a waterwise garden

Common questions

Is wormwood safe for pets and people?

No. It contains compounds that are harmful in quantity, so do not eat it or let pets chew it. It is sold here as a garden ornamental, for its foliage.

Why does it need so much space?

Artemisias dislike growing alongside each other, and wormwood can hold back some close neighbours. Give each plant about a metre of clear ground.

When should I cut it back?

In spring, when new shoots emerge. Cut the old shoots down to near the base so the plant renews itself from fresh growth.