Silvermound wormwood
Artemisia schmidtiana · Asteraceae
📷 Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 3.0
The gardener's calendar
Silvermound wormwood is in full bloom: enjoy it, watch watering in hot weather and let spent flowers feed pollinators before pruning.
ID card
- Foliage
- Evergreen, finely cut and silvery
- Flowering
- August to September, small yellow flowers
- Adult size
- 40 cm tall, compact and airy habit
- Growth
- Fast
- Hardiness
- Very hardy, down to -20°C
- Origin
- Japan
- Soil type
- Well-drained, poor to moderately fertile
✓ Taxonomy verifiedSource: AI estimate · hardiness: reliability high.
Expert tips
The key tip
Artemisia schmidtiana will decline at the first opportunity if soil retains water. Plant it in very well-draining soil, ideally mixed with sand or gravel.
The common mistake
Watering it in winter or with excessive zeal in spring: this is the error that most often weakens it, even for experienced gardeners.
The pro's trick
In March, cut the stems flush with the ground.
Seasonal watch
In humid autumn/winter, watch out for collar rot.
Care
Watering
Schmidt's artemisia tolerates drought very well once established. Water moderately at planting time and during active growth, then gradually reduce. In summer, check that the soil isn't dried out in depth, but avoid excess moisture which could promote rot.
Exposure
Place this plant in full sun so its silvery foliage expresses all its beauty. It also tolerates partial shade, but will lose compactness and colour. Make sure it receives at least 6 hours of direct sunlight daily.
Soil
Well-drained soil is essential: choose a light, poor to moderately fertile substrate. Artemisia thrives in chalky or neutral soil. Improve heavy soil by incorporating sand or gravel. Avoid overly rich soils which would promote soft growth and less dense foliage.
Pruning and cutting
Prune lightly in spring to maintain compact habit and encourage density. You can reduce the plant by a third after flowering or in late winter. Pinch young growing stems to stimulate branching. Remove any parts damaged by frost or debris.
Fertilizer
This plant needs very limited feeding. A light organic mulch is generally sufficient in autumn. Avoid excess fertilizer, which would make the plant too vigorous and fragile. In very poor soil, a diluted application in spring can be helpful.
Diseases and pests
Schmidt's artemisia is very robust and seldom affected by disease in appropriate conditions. Excess moisture can promote root rot or fungal issues: ensure impeccable drainage. Occasionally watch for aphids, but the plant generally recovers well on its own.
Did you know?
The genus Artemisia is named after the Greek goddess Artemis and also draws its supposed virtues from Queen Artemisia II (wife of King Mausolus). Used since antiquity in herbalism, artemisia became famous in Japanese gardening for its ultra-fine and downy foliage: 'schmidtiana', named in honour of German botanist Wilhelm Schmidt, is one of the most ornamental with its grey-silver tone that shimmers in the sun.
Where to buy it
Plant in spring or early autumn, avoiding spells of intense heat. Pick a plant with healthy foliage and roots that are not exposed. Best time: March, April, May, September.
Add this plant to my garden →Plants from the same family
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Tips generated and checked by Viridia — adapt them to your local climate.