Chinese Mugwort Seeds (Artemisia argyi)

Chinese mugwort (Artemisia argyi) is a herbaceous perennial about 1 m tall that grows from a creeping rhizome and has leaves that are densely white and woolly beneath.

Also known as: Chinese mugwort, Silvery wormwood, Argy wormwood, Àicǎo 艾草 and Àiyè 艾葉 (Chinese).

How to recognise it

• Lower leaves are about 6 cm long and bipinnate, with broad lobes and short marginal teeth.
• Upper leaves are smaller and three-parted.
• Leaves are hairy on the upper surface and densely white and woolly underneath, and they carry small oil-producing glands.

Limits to know before sowing

The creeping rhizome means plants widen each year, so give them a large container or an edged bed. We have no sourced germination percentage or emergence time for this lot and do not state one.

Sowing and early care

1. Sow into a clean, well-drained medium.
2. Keep moisture steady until seedlings appear, and avoid waterlogging.
3. Move seedlings into stronger light gradually.
4. Plant out in sun; Artemisia species in general thrive in full sun and soil that dries out between waterings.

FAQ

How do I tell Chinese mugwort from common mugwort?

Check the Latin name and size. Chinese mugwort is Artemisia argyi, about 1 m tall with bipinnate lower leaves, while common mugwort (A. vulgaris) reaches up to about 1.5 m with pinnate leaves.

What can I expect from this lot?

Expect a rhizome perennial of about 1 m. We cannot quote a germination rate or emergence time, so sow generously and keep the medium evenly moist.