Common Mugwort Seeds (Artemisia vulgaris)

Common mugwort (Artemisia vulgaris) is an aromatic herbaceous perennial that grows up to about 1.5 m and spreads by rhizomes, so it needs a bed or pot of its own.

Also known as: Felon herb, Riverside wormwood, Wild wormwood, Chrysanthemum weed, Nagdona (Hindi), Armoise commune (French), Gewöhnlicher Beifuß (German), Artemisa (Spanish), Assenzio selvatico (Italian).

What the plant looks like

The pinnate leaves are dark green and smooth above and covered with dense, whitish, woolly hairs beneath. Yellow or reddish flower heads form in panicles from midsummer to early autumn.

Limits to know before sowing

• It spreads mainly by rhizomes, and some regions of North America treat it as an invasive weed, so check local rules before planting it outdoors.
• Wild plants in temperate regions rarely produce seed that germinates. We have no sourced germination percentage or emergence time for this lot and do not state one.
• Artemisia species in general thrive in full sun and soil that dries out between waterings.

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, ideally in a large container or an edged bed that holds the rhizomes in.

FAQ

Is common mugwort the same plant as Chinese mugwort?

No. Chinese mugwort is Artemisia argyi, about 1 m tall, while A. vulgaris reaches up to about 1.5 m. Both have woolly leaf undersides, so check the Latin name.

How do I keep it from spreading?

Grow it in a large pot or an edged bed and remove stray rhizome pieces, because the spread is mainly underground.