Southernwood

Southernwood (Artemisia Abrotanum) and its gray-green leaves and upright growth make it an outstanding focal point in any garden.

It can even be used in a foundation planting around your house. Just brushing against the leaves releases their clean fragrance.

This herb is known by many names including Garden Sagebrush, European Sage, Southern Wormwood, and Lemon Plant.

Southerwood can be used for making homemade cosmetics, flower arrangements, insect repellents, and even for medicinal uses.

Description

This is a perennial herb that can grow up to 5 feet tall in zones 4 to 8.

Flowers: Loose clusters of tiny inconspicuous greenish-yellowish-white flowers that bloom in the late summer. This herb rarely blooms in the northern areas.

Leaves: Fine, feathery, downy, gray-green leaves cover stems that become woody as the plant ages. In mild areas, plants hold their leaves through the winter.

Flavor and fragrance: This herb is not typically recommended for internal use; it has a strong, clean, almost camphorlike fragrance.

How To Grow

When to plant: Buy young plants and transplant them to the garden in the spring or the summer. Take the cuttings in early summer or divide established plants in the spring.

Where to plant: Prefers full sun.

Soil and fertility: Plant in well-drained soil of average fertility. Apply 1/2 inch of compost as a mulch every spring. Allow the top 1 to 2 inches of the soil to dry between waterings.

Plant spacing: Space the plants 2 to 4 feet apart.

Pests: Pest-free

Diseases: Susceptible to root rot in poorly drained soils.

Harvesting

When to harvest: You can harvest the stems anytime. For best drying, gather the stems in the morning after the dew has dried.

How to harvest: Cut the whole stems back to the woody portions.

Drying: Hang the stems upside down to air dry.

Uses

Medicinal: A decoction of the branches and barley is said to be effective against acne.

Cosmetic: Uses Southernwood leaves and bark in hair rinses and conditioners to condition oily hair, help prevent dandruff, and give hair body.

Arrangements and crafts: Use dried branches as a base for herbal wreaths. Add the dried stems to winter arrangements or use the fresh branches in summer bouquets.

Insect repellent: Southernwood is an excellent insect repellent. Use it in insect repelling sachets and lotions, and keep the branches in linen closets.