Artemisia ludoviciana
| Artemisia ludoviciana | |
| Light: |   |
| Moisture: |   |
| Hardiness: | 5 |
| Soil pH: | 6.6-8.4 |
| Height: | 3' |
| Width: | 3' |
| Blooms: | Late Summer-Mid Fall |
| Native to: | |
| Edible Rating: |  |
| Medicinal Rating: |  |
| Tea: | Yes |
 | |
Artemisia ludoviciana (common name: white sage)
Propagation: Seed - surface sow from late winter to early summer in a greenhouse, making sure that the compost does not dry out[1]. When large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and grow them on in the greenhouse for their first winter. Plant out in late spring or early summer.
Division in spring or autumn[1].
Basal cuttings in late spring. Harvest the young shoots when about10 - 15cm long, pot up in a lightly shaded position in a greenhouse or cold frame and plant them out when well rooted. Very easy.
Cultivation: Easily grown in a well-drained circumneutral or slightly alkaline loamy soil, preferring a sunny position[2][1]. Does well in a sandy soil[3]. Established plants are very drought tolerant[4]. Plants are longer lived, more hardy and more aromatic when they are grown in a poor dry soil[5].
A very polymorphic species[6].
Slugs love the young shoots of this plant and have been known to destroy even well-established plants[K].
A very ornamental plant, spreading by stolons to form loose patches[7], it can be invasive[4]. There are many named forms selected for their ornamental value[1].
Members of this genus are rarely if ever troubled by browsing deer[8].
Range: Western N. America - Michigan to Washington, south to Texas and Mexico.
Habitat: Prairies, dry open soils and thin woodland[6].
Edibility: Leaves and flowering heads are used as a flavouring or garnish for sauces, gravies etc[9].
A herb tea is made from the leaves and flowering heads[9].
Seed[10][11][12][9]. No further details are given but the seed is very small and fiddly to use.
Medicinal: The leaves are astringent[13]. They were commonly used by the N. American Indians to induce sweating, curb pain and diarrhoea[13]. A weak tea was used in the treatment of stomach ache and menstrual disorders[13].
Externally, a wash of the leaves was applied to itching, rashes, swellings, boils, sores, etc[13]. The wash was also applied to eczema and as an underarm deodorant[14]. A poultice of the leaves can be applied to spider bites, blisters and burst boils[14].
A snuff of the crushed leaves has been used to treat headaches, the sinuses and nosebleeds[14].
Usage: The plant makes a useful ground cover plant once it is established[4].
The leaves can be placed in the shoes as a foot deodorant[14]. An infusion of the leaves has been used as an underarm deodorant[14].
The soft leaves can be used as a toilet paper[14].
The plant can be burnt to repel mosquitoes[14].
Pollinators: Wind
Soil: Can grow in light and medium soils.
Drainage: Prefers well drained soil.
Seed Ripens: Early Fall-Mid Fall
Flower Type: Hermaphrodite
Known Hazards: There is a report that the plant can cause allergies in some people[13].
Links
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 Huxley, Anthony. The New Royal Horticultural Society Dictionary of Gardening. MacMillan Press, 1992.
- ↑ Chittendon, Fred. RHS Dictionary of Plants. Oxford University Press, 1951.
- ↑ Brickell, Christopher. The RHS Gardener's Encyclopedia of Plants and Flowers. Dorling Kindersley Publishers, 1990.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 Chatto, Beth. The Damp Garden. Dent, 1982.
- ↑ Genders, Roy. Scented Flora of the World. Robert Hale, 1994.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 Lyndon, Merritt. Gray's Manual of Botany. American Book Co, 1950.
- ↑ Phillips, Roger and Martyn Rix. Perennials - The Definitve Reference. Pan Books, 1991.
- ↑ Thomas, Graham. Perennial Garden Plants. J. M. Dent & Sons, 1990.
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 9.2 Facciola, Stephen. Cornucopia - A Source Book of Edible Plants. Kampong Publications, 1990.
- ↑ Tanaka, Tyōzaburō. Tanaka's Cyclopaedia of Edible Plants of the World. Keigaku Publishing, 1976.
- ↑ Yanovsky, Elias. Food Plants of the North American Indians Publication 237. US Department of Agriculture.
- ↑ Kunkel, Günther. Plants for Human Consumption. Koeltz Scientific Books, 1984.
- ↑ 13.0 13.1 13.2 13.3 13.4 Foster, Steven and Billy Tatum. Medicinal Plants of Eastern and Central North America. Houghton Mifflin, 1990.
- ↑ 14.0 14.1 14.2 14.3 14.4 14.5 14.6 Moerman, Daniel. Native American Ethnobotany. Timber Press, 1998.