Artemisia abrotanum (top-left) Artemisia alba ‘Canescens’ (top-right) Artemisia ‘Powis Castle’ (bottom-left) Artemisia schmidtiana ‘Silver Mound’ (bottom-right)
The Wormwood family (Artemisia species) include some very garden-worthy plants which provide some of the best silver and grey foliage for the garden. These easy-going perennials produce mounds or shoots clothed in whorls of fine textured leaves which blend beautifully with other plants.
They are particularity valuable when combined with whites, greys and blues helping to create a light, shimmering silvery effect. Give them a sunny spot in well-drained soil and they will thrive. In most cases the foliage is scented too. Great for herb gardens, gravel and rock gardens and Mediterranean gardens.
In this article I want to tell you about four great varieties that I grow and share with you some examples of planting combinations that might inspire you.
All four are hardy, easy to grow and well behaved — they do not run at the roots like some Artemisia species.
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1 Silvermound (Artemisia schmidtiana)
Silvermound
(Artemisia schmidtiana)
——
12in (30cm)
16in (40cm)
silver foliage
Mar-Dec
full sun
free-drained soil
soft to touch
Information
Silvermound (Artemisia schmidtiana) is a semi-evergreen perennial, native of Japan. In spring fresh shoots emerge from the base which quickly grow to makes a neat dome of silvery-grey foliage which is unbelievably silky-soft to the touch. The individual leaves are finely divided giving a starry look to the whole plant. The foliage has a slightly camphor scent when brushed. It is very accommodating, growing well alongside other small and medium sized plants in the border where it can set off other plants. Style: Great for Mediterranean, Rock, Gravel, Alpine and Herb gardens, or towards the front of a herbaceous border.
Cultivation Tips
> Tiny yellow flowers appear in late summer, but these are insignificant and can be trimmed off to keep the plant neat.
> Prune back if spreading too far or if commuting with adjacent plants. Cut shoots quickly re-sprout from lower down.
> In winter cut back all stems close to the base.
> Divide every few years and replant the pieces to maintain vigour.
Varieties
A. schmidtiana ‘Silver Mound’
Forms a very uniform, compact dome. (pictured below) which grows 10 to 14 in. (25 – 35 cm) high and 12 to 18 in. across (30 to 45 cm). Best given space to develop its shape. If planted close to other plants it will grow through them
A. schmidtiana ‘nana‘
A low growing variety which only reaches 4 to 8 in. (10 – 20 cm) high and spreads 12 to 16 in. across (30 to 40 cm). Ideal for growing close to smaller alpines in the rock garden
Gallery
Close up of dissected foliage of Artemisia schmidtiana Domed shape of an Artemisia schmidtiana plant Dwarf variety (A. schmidtiana ‘Nana’) growing on a green roof with the white and pink fleabane Erigeron karvinskianus, pink Thrift, Allium christofii and other alpines. A silver-grey planting scheme including (top-left to bottom right): Salvia Caradonna, Perovskia atriplicifolia Little Spire, Salvia Snow Hill; Festuca Glauca Elijah Blue, Gypsophila Festival White Flare, Artemisia schmidtiana ‘Silver Mound’ and Lavandula stoechas Javelin White Forte
2 White wormwood (A. Alba ‘Canescens’)
White wormwood
(Artemisia alba ‘Canescens’)
——
16in (40cm)
18in (45cm)
silver-white foliage
Mar-Dec
full sun
free-drained soil
one of the whitest
Information
White wormwood (Artemisia alba ‘Canescens’) is a semi-evergreen shrubby perennial, native of the Mediterranean. The species is grey-green with glandular hairs making the stems appear silver-green. In the variety Canescens the whole plant is a very light silvery grey. Multiple stems of the finest filagree foliage arise from a central base, creating an open, loose clump of upward-arching stems . Planted close to other perennials the stems will snake their way up through adjacent plants. The individual leaves are heavily divided, thread-like and recurved creating a striking netting effect. In full sun and drought the foliage seems to get whiter.
Cultivation Tips
> Small flowers appear in late summer, but these are insignificant and can be trimmed off to keep the plant neat.
> Pinch out new stems to encourage bushiness.
> In winter cut back all stems close to the base. (Leave until spring in cold areas)
Planting idea
A busy border of drough-Tolerant Pollinator plants
This is a four feet deep and eight feet wide border in July with a mixture of border-perennials, alpines and shrubby herbs, which is visited continually by bees and butterflies. Holding the arrangement together Artemisia alba Canescens weaves its way through the mid ground, flanked on either side by similarly silvery spires of Perovskia atriplicifolia Little Spire which are topped all summer with their violet-blue hooded flowers. Behind are purple Aster Monch which flower for ages. To the right a few mauve-pink blooms of Penstemon Sour Grapes are visible. Bottom left a Sedum. In the central foreground Phlox douglasii ‘Eva’ grows between two rocks. Bottom right deep blue Hyssop pushes in. The dried seed heads of Alium nigrum add contrasting form and colour.
3 Artemisia arborescens ‘Powis Castle’
Wormwood Powis Castle
(Artemisia arborescens)
——
20in (50cm)
30in (80cm)
silver-white foliage
Mar-Dec
full sun
free-drained soil
one of the whitest
Information
Powis Castle (Artemisia alba ‘Canescens’) is a semi-evergreen dwarf shrub with a fluffy rounded habit. It develops a woody branching stem from which grey shoots grow in the spring. The silver-grey leaves are finely dissected and fernlike, giving the whole plant a soft cloud appearance.
Cultivation Tips
> Small flowers appear in late summer, but these are insignificant and can be trimmed off to keep the plant neat.
> Pinch out new stems to encourage bushiness.
> In winter cut back all stems hard to prevent legginess. New shoots will emerge in spring from dormant buds along the stems, keeping the plant dense and compact.
Gallery
Close up of leaves A young plant Woody stems – cut back to half length in winter and it will re-sprout dense new shoots in spring WHTE PLANTING SCHEME Artemisia Powis Castle can be grown in pots, although it is longer lived in the ground. In this arrangement it is paired with white flowered Pelargoniums in terracotta pots. In the foreground Lambs Ears (Stachys Byzantina) and a pot of White Million Bells (Claibrachoa Caberet White)
4 Southernwood (Artemisia abrotamun)
Southernwood / Lad’s Love
(Artemisia abrotanum)
——
24in (60cm)
30in (80cm)
sage-green foliage
Mar-Dec
full sun
free-drained soil
beautiful scent
Information
Southerwood (Artemisia abrotanum) also known as Lad’s Love, is a semi-evergreen dwarf shrub which develops a woody base after several years of being cut back each winter. In spring it produces dark shoots which grow to 2ft tall (60cm) These are clothed in finely dissected grey-green leaves reminiscent of miniature fennel foliage. The whole plant gives off a delicious scent when brushed, so is lovely in a herb garden and close to paths. It provides a wonderful background to mediterranean plants, sages, alliums or sedums. It looks at home with other herbs, and can be clipped to produce a neat dome. If pruned it quickly recovers, greening-up in a few weeks. Cut stems make good additions to vases. When stressed at the height of summer some leaves take on a golden reddish hue.
Cultivation Tips
> Small flowers rarely appear in late summer, but these are insignificant and can be trimmed off.
> Pinch out young stems to encourage bushiness. Trim to keep in bounds.
> In winter cut back all stems back to 6in (15cm) from the ground to prevent legginess. A woody base will develop. New shoots will emerge in spring.
Gallery
Artemisia abrotanum – close up of young stem Southernwood forms a small shrub (3ft high) – great alongside a path where it can be brushed to release its wonderful coca-cola fragrance. Leaves can take on orange and yellow tints when stressed in the height of summer PLANTING SCHEME: In this herb-garden Lad’s Love (Artemisia abrotanum) forms a backdrop to pink flowered Compact Marjoram (Origanum vulgare Compactum), Blue fescue (Festuca Glauca) and Blue English Lavender Lavender (Lavandula angustifolia Hidcote). In the foreground: Giant Lamb’s ear (Stachys Byzantine Big Ears).
Am very excited by your ideas on an 8 x 4ft bed. I lost my Powis Castle in this wet UK winter, so am going to try out your idea in my gravel garden, in a free flow planting. I might pop a Verbena Bonariensis in too, to balance the Perovskia. Thank you for inspiration!
That’s great! So glad you found the post useful!