Artemisia abrotanum cv. Southernwood

	Artemisias are truly amazing. They take many different forms from ground covers to large shrubs and run the gamut of colored foliage from silvery shades like those of Powis Castle Artemisia to soft vibrant greens like those of Southernwood. Somewhere in the late 1500's or so, Southernwood was introduced to the British. Because it was native to Southern Europe and, because the British were already familiar with their native Wormwood, it became the Southern Wormwood. Eventually, this was shortened to just Southernwood. Lads were already including the pungent Wormwood in bouquets to lovely lassies, no doubt to mask less-than-desirable personal odors, so it was no surprise that they began to include the pungent clean-smelling Southernwood also. Consequently, two common names are Lad's Love and Maiden's Ruin. The French, who have wonderful names for everything, have called Southernwood Garderobe (closet), referring to its reputation to guard your robes from moths. Southernwood makes its way into many cosmetic products today. This pungent aroma makes it difficult to perceive of Southernwood as a culinary herb, but it has been used as such in the past. Reputed to have been used with fatty meats, the result must have been extremely bitter (no doubt the reason its use was discontinued). There are records that indicate the Shakers were dealing with Southernwood as a medicinal herb as early as 1830. It was reported for use in obstructions and in treating children for threadworms. Today, Southernwood is most appreciated for its contribution to the landscape both for its soft sea-green appearance and for its fragrance which is a woodsy citrus smell. Flowering is rare and, when it does occur, it is like those of most Artemisias: disappointing. The flowers are small yellow buttons that turn a most disagreeable brownish cream. Fortunately, shearing the plants to between 18 inches and two feet produces not only sturdy growth, but eliminates the odd flower stalk.
	Southernwood makes a great addition to both our Zone 5 Fragrant Herb Garden Six Pack and our Zone 8 Fragrant Herb Garden Six Pack.

Cultural Information

Height: 3 Feet

Hardiness: Perennial
in Zones 5-11

Flower Color: Yellow

Characteristics: Full Sun,
Water Conserving,
Evergreen

Uses: Fragrant Ornamental,
Medicinal

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