Artemisia vulgaris Seeds | Common Mugwort
LATIN NAME: Artemisia vulgaris
COMMON NAME: Common Mugwort
Plant Profile
Common Mugwort (Artemisia vulgaris) is a rhizomatous perennial herb of the daisy family (Asteraceae), native to Europe, Asia and North Africa and naturalised in North America. It grows 60-180 cm tall, with deeply cut, dark-green leaves white-felted beneath and tall panicles of small reddish flower heads in late summer. One of the oldest of all herbs, it has flavoured beer, seasoned goose, and served moxibustion and folk medicine for two thousand years.
Science & Biotechnology
Mugwort is the Western counterweight to wormwood and the herb of moxibustion — dried mugwort leaf (ai ye, usually from A. argyi) is burned over acupuncture points in Chinese practice, a therapy with documented thermal and pharmacological effects still being studied. The leaves contain an essential oil with thujone and cineole; thujone is neurotoxic at high doses, which is why internal use is restricted in the EU and the herb is contraindicated in pregnancy. In the garden it is an aromatic, nearly indestructible perennial and a significant pollen allergen.
Artemisia vulgaris sits in the Artemisia group, a group that keeps botanists, horticulturists and plant breeders busy with questions of classification, adaptation and ornamental potential. Before widespread adoption of hops, common mugwort was a key bittering and flavouring herb in European gruit ale, a pre-hops brewing tradition studied by beer historians researching transition to modern hopped beer production. For practical purposes the message is encouraging: generations of cultivation have produced plants of predictable, well-mannered garden character.
Uses & Benefits
Gardeners value Common Mugwort for its ornamental character, and the plant also fits naturally into herb, vegetable and cutting gardens. Because it spreads vigorously by rhizome and self-seeds readily, it is worth siting with some control in mind, since it can become a persistent garden and agricultural weed if left unchecked. After the first season it asks for very little beyond a place that suits it.
Mugwort is the moxa herb: dried and aged, it becomes the moxa punk burned in Chinese moxibustion, and in Europe it is a traditional bitter and dream herb. Its thujone content calls for moderate use.
Growing from Seed
Sow fresh seed of Common Mugwort under ordinary good conditions. Sow fine seed onto surface of a loose, well-drained mix without covering it deeply, keeping medium consistently moist. Full sun to light shade suits this exceptionally adaptable perennial well, and given its vigorous spreading habit, a contained bed is worth considering if you want to enjoy its traditional uses without it colonising wider garden. Sow the seeds evenly over the surface and cover lightly in a loose, well-drained seed compost, keep the sowing evenly moist, and give the pot or tray full sun. Grow the youngsters on steadily in pots until well rooted, then move them to their final positions.
Our Take
Common Mugwort earns its space through character rather than fuss. Given full sun and free drainage, it asks for little routine attention.
Related Reading
Gardeners who grow Common Mugwort often pair it with these related subjects: