Artemisia maritima
| Artemisia maritima | |
| Light: |  |
| Moisture: |   |
| Hardiness: | 7 |
| Soil pH: | 5.6-8.4 |
| Height: | 2' |
| Blooms: | Late Summer-Early Fall |
| Native to: | |
| Edible Rating: |  |
| Medicinal Rating: |  |
| Tea: | Yes |
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Artemisia maritima (common name: sea wormwood)
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.
Cuttings of half-ripe wood, July/August in a frame.
Division in spring or autumn[1].
Cultivation: Succeeds in any soil but prefers a poor dry soil with a warm aspect[2]. Easily grown in a well-drained circumneutral or slightly alkaline loamy soil, preferring a sunny position[3][1]. Plants are longer lived, more hardy and more aromatic when they are grown in a poor dry soil[4]. Tolerates a pH in the range 6.0 to 7.6. Dislikes shade. Established plants are very drought tolerant[5][1]. Tolerates maritime exposure[5].
The whole plant has a sweet aromatic smell[4].
Plants in this genus are notably resistant to honey fungus.[1]
Members of this genus are rarely if ever troubled by browsing deer[6].
Range: Much of Europe, including Britain, east to central Asia.
Habitat: Drier parts of salt marshes[7] in sand and shingle[5].
Edibility: The leaves are occasionally used as a flavouring[8]. Some caution is advised, see the notes above on toxicity.
Medicinal: Sea wormwood is not much used in herbal medicine, though it is often used domestically. Its medicinal virtues are similar to wormwood, A. absinthum, though milder in their action. It is used mainly as a tonic to the digestive system, in treating intermittent fevers and as a vermifuge[9]. The leaves and flowering shoots are anthelmintic, antiseptic, antispasmodic, carminative, cholagogue, emmenagogue, febrifuge, stimulant, stomachic, tonic and vermifuge[9][10]. The plant is harvested as it comes into flower and is dried for later use[9].
The unexpanded floral heads contain the vermicide 'santonin'[11].
Usage: The growing shoots are said to repel insects and mice[12][13][14], they have also been used as a strewing herb[9][15]. An infusion is said to discourage slugs and insects[15][13].
Pollinators: Wind
Soil: Can grow in light and medium soils.
Drainage: Prefers well drained soil.
Wind: Tolerates maritime wind exposure
Flower Type: Hermaphrodite
Known Hazards: The following notes are from a report on the closely related A. absinthum, they quite possibly also apply to this species.
The plant is poisonous if used in large quantities[14][16]. Even small quantities have been known to cause nervous disorders, convu
Also Known As: Seriphidium maritimum. (L.)Soják.
Links
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 Huxley, Anthony. The New Royal Horticultural Society Dictionary of Gardening. MacMillan Press, 1992.
- ↑ Thompson, Robert. The Gardener's Assistant. Blackie and Son, 1878.
- ↑ Chittendon, Fred. RHS Dictionary of Plants. Oxford University Press, 1951.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Genders, Roy. Scented Flora of the World. Robert Hale, 1994.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 Chatto, Beth. The Damp Garden. Dent, 1982.
- ↑ Thomas, Graham. Perennial Garden Plants. J. M. Dent & Sons, 1990.
- ↑ Clapham, Arthur and Tom Tootin, Edmund Warburg. Flora of the British Isles. Cambridge University Press, 1962.
- ↑ Facciola, Stephen. Cornucopia - A Source Book of Edible Plants. Kampong Publications, 1990.
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 9.2 9.3 Grieve, Margaret. A Modern Herbal. Penguin, 1984.
- ↑ Singh, Gurcharan and Premnath Kachroo. Forest Flora of Srinagar. Bishen Singh Mahendra Pal Singh, 1976.
- ↑ Duke, James and Edward Ayensu. Medicinal Plants of China. Reference Publications, 1985.
- ↑ Mabey, Richard. Plants with a Purpose. Fontana, 1979.
- ↑ 13.0 13.1 Philbrick, Helen and Richard Gregg. Companion Plants. Watkins, 1979.
- ↑ 14.0 14.1 Riotte, Louise. Carrots Love Tomatoes. Garden Way, 1978.
- ↑ 15.0 15.1 Hylton, Josie and William Holtom. Complete Guide to Herbs. Rodale Press, 1979.
- ↑ Usher, George. A Dictionary of Plants Used by Man. Constable, 1974.