Wormwood

Wormwood (Artemisia Absinthium) - Wormwood is an attractive addition to the herb garden! It has finely-divided foliage that is gray-green in color and aromatic. In mid-summer, it produces many yellow flowers. It has a long history as a medicinal herb with use dating all the way back to the ancient Egyptians. They used Wormwood to rid the body of worms. It is still used to stimulate and aid in digestion. Other uses include being used as a moth repellant and a general pesticide.

It is a hardy herb plant that tolerates cold temperatures and poor soils. It thrives in partial shade during the hottest part of the day. Care must be taken to give it plenty of space from other herbs in the garden. Wormwood contains a chemical, absinthin, that can be toxic to other plants. For this reason, many herb gardeners prefer to grow it in a container. Water only when the soil has dried out. Cut back the dead foliage each spring to revive it and encourage fresh growth.

Harvesting Wormwood is usually done in mid-summer. When the plants are fully flowering, pick the upper portions of the stalks. Tie the stalks together and hang them upside down in a dark well-ventilated place. When the stalks are dried, store in an air-tight container in a dark place.