Artemisia Lactiflora (Compositae) - White Mugwort

This is a mugwort native to Western China. Grown for its plumes of creamy, white flowers, similar to astilbe, that appear from mid-summer on, rising 3’-5’ against a backdrop of ornamental foliage. Vigorous, clump forming plant and not invasive like the European mugwort (go figure!). Not only was it awarded a Garden Merit from the Royal Horticultural Society, it is also a Chinese medicinal valued for it’s bitter and aromatic properties. It also makes a nice dried flower and potpourri.

We also often carry artemisia absinthium, commonly known as wormwood. The name, of course, comes from being one of the critical ingredients of the once banned absinthe. Heavy use of which was associated with severe neurological disorders. A nice, if somewhat weedy, member of the artemisia family with a long history.