Artemisia frigida
| Artemisia frigida | |
| Light: |  |
| Moisture: |   |
| Hardiness: | 4 |
| Soil pH: | 5.6-8.4 |
| Height: | 1' |
| Width: | 2' |
| Native to: | |
| Edible Rating: |  |
| Medicinal Rating: |  |
| Tea: | Yes |
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Artemisia frigida (common name: fringed wormwood)
Propagation: Seed - surface sow from late winter to early summer in a greenhouse in a very free-draining soil, but make sure that the compost does not dry out. The seed usually germinates within 1 - 2 weeks in a warm greenhouse. When large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and grow them on in the greenhouse for their first winter. Plant them out in late spring or early summer.
Cuttings of half-ripe wood, July/August in a frame.
Division in spring or autumn[1].
Cultivation: Requires a sunny position and a well-drained soil that is not too rich[2][1]. Requires a lime-free soil. Established plants are very drought tolerant[1]. Plants are longer lived, more hardy and more aromatic when they are grown in a poor dry soil[3].
A very ornamental plant[2].
Members of this genus are rarely if ever troubled by browsing deer[4].
Range: N. America - Minnesota to Saskatchewan, Yukon, Texas and Arizona. N. Asia.
Habitat: Dry prairies, plains and rocks to 3300 metres in N. America[5][6].
Edibility: The leaves are used by the Hopi Indians as a flavouring for sweet corn[7][8][9][10][11].
Medicinal: The leaves are stomachic, vermifuge and used in the treatment of women's complaints[8]. The plant contains camphor, which is stimulant and antispasmodic[12]. An infusion of the leaves is used in the treatment of biliousness, indigestion, coughs and colds whilst the leaves are chewed and the juice swallowed to treat heartburn[11]. A poultice of the chewed leaves is used as a poultice to reduce swellings and the leaves are also placed in the nose to stop nosebleeds[11]. A hot poultice of the leaves has been used to treat toothache[11].
The leaves can be used as a sanitary towel to help reduce skin irritation[11]. They are also drunk as a tea when the woman is menstruating or to treat irregular menstruation[11].
The dried leaves are burnt in a room as a disinfectant[11].
A decoction of the root is used as a stimulant and tonic[11].
Usage: Both the growing and the dried plant can be used as an insect repellent[8]. The leaves can be placed on a camp fire to repel mosquitoes[11].
The aromatic leaves have been used in pillows etc as a deodorant[11].
Bunches of the soft leaves have been used as towels, toilet paper etc[11].
A green dye is obtained from the leaves[11].
Pollinators: Wind
Soil: Can grow in light and medium soils.
Drainage: Prefers well drained soil.
Flower Type: Hermaphrodite
Known Hazards: Although no reports of toxicity have been seen for this species, skin contact with some members of this genus can cause dermatitis or other allergic reactions in some people[13].
Links
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Huxley, Anthony. The New Royal Horticultural Society Dictionary of Gardening. MacMillan Press, 1992.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Chittendon, Fred. RHS Dictionary of Plants. Oxford University Press, 1951.
- ↑ Genders, Roy. Scented Flora of the World. Robert Hale, 1994.
- ↑ Thomas, Graham. Perennial Garden Plants. J. M. Dent & Sons, 1990.
- ↑ Lyndon, Merritt. Gray's Manual of Botany. American Book Co, 1950.
- ↑ Bird, Alfred. Growing from Seed Volume 4. Thompson and Morgan, 1990.
- ↑ Usher, George. A Dictionary of Plants Used by Man. Constable, 1974.
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 Schofield, Janice. Discovering Wild Plants.
- ↑ Kunkel, Günther. Plants for Human Consumption. Koeltz Scientific Books, 1984.
- ↑ Facciola, Stephen. Cornucopia - A Source Book of Edible Plants. Kampong Publications, 1990.
- ↑ 11.00 11.01 11.02 11.03 11.04 11.05 11.06 11.07 11.08 11.09 11.10 11.11 Moerman, Daniel. Native American Ethnobotany. Timber Press, 1998.
- ↑ Weiner, Michael. Earth Medicine, Earth Food. Ballantine Books, 1980.
- ↑ Foster, Steven and Billy Tatum. Medicinal Plants of Eastern and Central North America. Houghton Mifflin, 1990.