Artemisias

[Lilyfae]

Ok so a few years ago whilst on holiday I popped into Glastonbury on Market day and found a fab stall selling different herbs that the average pagan/witch would squeak in delight over.
So I bought a few and popped them into my parents' garden as I was at home then. Some lived, some died and dog chewed the labels.

Anyway I noticed the other day that one of those artemisias I bought has grown into a lovely mature bush but I can't for the life of me remember if it is mugwort, wormwood or southernwood & dont want to think oh it's mugwort and end up making a hallucinogenic tea/incense etc when I want nice dreams!

So it's a typical artemisia in leaf shape & form. Stands about 35cm tall with current 50cm spread. It's woody at the lower stems (but I don't know if that's nature or dads lack of pruning), it's a vibrant green, and has a strong fragrance that reminds me of cola bottles.
Jekkas books were no help other than confirming my memory it was an artemisia!

Any ideas before I take a cutting?

[sleepyowl]

Sounds more likely to be tarragon, do you have a photo?

[Mrs Moustoir]

If you do a g00gle images search - there are loads of pictures of artemisias and you should be able to find yours.

We have one in our garden which is artemisia maritima (one variety of wormwood). I grew it from a cutting of my late Mum's plant which originally came from her mother's garden in Fife. She called it "apple ringy" which is probably the Scots name for it. Ours is quite woody at the base of the stems as I always forget to cut it back in the winter. The foliage is quite feathery almost like fennel or dill.

I wouldn't make a tea from it as it is recommended as a purge and a cure for worms in old herbal almanacs! And it was a key ingredient of absinthe in years gone by...

[Lilyfae]

I'll have to snap a pic next time I'm over there.

It's definitely not tarragon as I've grown that before, and the wormwood bit is what I'm worried about!!!

Thanks for the help though!

[sleepyowl]

wormwood is pale leaved, mugwort is darker leaved