Wormwood

Uses of Wormwood Herb

Also known as Absinthe and Green Ginger. From the family Compositae. A native of Asia and Europe, including Britain, it was introduced into America as a cultivated plant and is now naturalized in many places. Found on waste ground, especially near the sea in warmer regions. Legend has it that as the serpent slithered out of Eden, wormwood first sprang up in the impressions on the ground left by its tail. Another story tells that in the beginning it was called 'Parthenis absinthium', but Artemis, Greek goddess of chastity, benefited so much from it that she named it after herself - 'Artemisia absinthium'. The Latin meaning of 'absinthium' is 'to desist from', which says it all.

Although it is one of the most bitter herbs known, it has for centuries been a major ingredient of aperitifs and herb wines. Both absinthe and vermouth get their names from this plant, the latter being an 18th century French variation of the German 'wermut', itself the origin of the English name Wormwood. Wormwood was hung by the door where it kept away evil spirits and deterred night-time visitations by goblins. It was also made a constituent of ink to stop mice eating old letters.

It was used as a strewing herb to prevent fleas, hence:

'White wormwood hath seed, get a handful or twain, to save against March, to make flea to refrain. Where chamber is sweeped and wormwood is streivn, no flea for his life, dare abide to be known.' This extract comes from Thomas Tusser's Five Hundred Pointes of Good Husbandrie, written in 1573. Finally, wormwood is believed to be the herb that Shakespeare had in mind when his Oberon lifted the spell from Titania with 'the juice of Dian's bud', Artemis being known to the Romans as Dian or Diana.

Species

Artemisia absinthium

Wormwood

Partial-evergreen hardy perennial. Ht lm (40in), spread 1.2m (4ft). Tiny, insignificant, yellow flower heads are borne in sprays in summer. The abundant leaves are divided, aromatic and grey/green in color.

Artemisia absinthium 'Lambrook Silver'

Evergreen hardy perennial. Ht80cm (32in), spread 50cm (20in). Tiny, insignificant, grey flowerheads are borne in long panicles in summer. The abundant leaves are finely divided, aromatic and silver/grey in color. May need protecting in exposed sites.

Artemisia pontica

Old Warrior

Evergreen hardy perennial. Hi 60cm (24in), spread 30cm (12in).Tiny, insignificant, silver/grey flower heads are borne on tall spikes in summer. The abundant, feathery, small leaves are finely divided, aromatic and silver/grey in color. This can, in the right conditions, be a vigorous grower, spreading well in excess of 30cm (12in).

Artemisia Pontica 'Powis Castle'

Evergreen hardy perennial. Ht90cm (36in), spread 1.2m (4ft). Tiny, insignificant, grayish-yellow flower heads are borne in sprays in summer. The abundant leaves are finely divided, aromatic and silver/ grey in color.

Cultivation

Propagation

Seed

Of the species mentioned above, only wormwood is successfully grown from seed. It is extremely small and best started off under protection. Sow in spring in a prepared seed or plug tray, using the bark, peat, grit mix of compost. Cover with Perlite and propagate with heat, 15-21 °C (60-70°F). Plant out when the seedlings are large enough to handle and have had a period of hardening off.

Cuttings

Take softwood cuttings from the lush new growth in early summer; semi-hardwood in late summer. Use the bark, peat, grit mix of compost.

Division

As they are all vigorous growers division is a good idea at least every 3 to 4 years to keep the plant healthy, to stop it becoming woody and to prevent encroaching. Dig up the plant in spring or autumn, divide the toots and replant in a chosen spot.

Pests and Diseases

Wormwood can suffer from a summer attack of black fly. If it gets too bad, use a liquid horticultural soap, following manufacturer's instructions.

Maintenance

Spring: Sow seeds. Divide established plants. Trim new growth for shape. Take softwood cuttings.

Summer: Take semi-hardwood cuttings.

Autumn: Prune back all the species mentioned to 15cm (6in) of the ground. Divide established plants.

Winter: Protect in temperatures below -5°C (23°F). Cover with agricultural fleece, straw, bark, anything that can be removed in the following spring.

Garden Cultivation

Artemisias like a light well-drained soil and sunshine, but will adapt well to ordinary soils provided some shelter is given. Planting distance depends on spread.

Wormwood is an overpoweringly flavored plant and it does impair the flavor of dill and coriander so do not plant nearby.

Harvest

Pick flowering tops just as they begin to open. Dry. Pick leaves for drying in summer.

Container growing

Artemisia absinthium 'Lambrook Silver' and Old Warrior (Artemisia pontica) look very good in terracotta containers. Use the bark, peat, grit mix of compost. Only feed in the summer; if you feed too early the leaves will lose their silvery foliage and revert to a more green look. In winter keep watering to the absolute minimum and protect from hard frosts.

Other uses

It can produce a yellow dye.

Antiseptic vinegar

This vinegar is known as the 'Four Thieves' because it is said that thieves used to rub their bodies with it before robbing plague victims.

1 tablespoon wormwood

1 tablespoon lavender

1 tablespoon rosemary

1 tablespoon sage

1.1 l (1 ¾) pints vinegar

Put the crushed herbs into an earthenware container. Pour in the vinegar. Cover the container and leave it in a warm sunny place two weeks. Strain into bottles with tight-fitting, non-metal lids. This makes a very refreshing tonic in the bath, or try sprinkling it on work surfaces in the kitchen.

Moth-Repellent

Wormwood or southernwood can be used for keeping moths and other harmful insects away from clothes. The smell is sharp and refreshing and does not cling to your clothes like camphor moth-balls.

Bug Ban Recipe

2 tablespoons dried wormwood or southernwood

2 tablespoons dried lavender

2 tablespoons dried mint

Mix the ingredients well and put into small sachets.

Medicinal

True to its name, wormwood expels worms especially round- and thread- worms.