Common Name: Sea Wormwood

General Information

Artemisia maritima is a strongly aromatic, herbaceous perennial plant growing from a short, usually branching, woody rootstock. The plant produces a mat of non-flowering rossettes of leaves on short branches, plus one to many, more or less woody, flowering stems 20 - 50cm tall[].
The plant is harvested from the wild for local use as a medicine.

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[, ]. Even small quantities have been known to cause nervous disorders, convulsions, insomnia etc[]. Just the scent of the plant has been known to cause headaches and nervousness in some people[].

Botanical References

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Range

Europe - coastal regions of the Atlantic from Norway to France ; Mediterranean from the Balkans to Turkey; Black Sea regionss of Europe and Asia

Habitat

Drier parts of salt marshes, on sea walls[] in sand and shingle[].

Properties

Edibility Rating
Medicinal Rating
Habit	Deciduous Perennial
Height	0.40 m
Pollinators	Wind
Cultivation Status	Wild

Cultivation Details

Succeeds in any soil but prefers a poor dry soil with a warm aspect[]. Easily grown in a well-drained circumneutral or slightly alkaline loamy soil, preferring a sunny position[, ]. Plants are longer lived, more hardy and more aromatic when they are grown in a poor dry soil[]. Tolerates a pH in the range 6.0 to 7.6. Dislikes shade. Established plants are very drought tolerant[, ]. Tolerates maritime exposure[].
The whole plant has a sweet aromatic smell[].
Plants in this genus are notably resistant to honey fungus[].
Members of this genus are rarely if ever troubled by browsing deer[].

Edible Uses

The leaves are occasionally used as a flavouring[]. 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, Artemisia 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[]. The leaves and flowering shoots are anthelmintic, antiseptic, antispasmodic, carminative, cholagogue, emmenagogue, febrifuge, stimulant, stomachic, tonic and vermifuge[, ].
The plant is harvested as it comes into flower and is dried for later use[].

A decoction of the roots is used externally as a wash to treat skin eruptions[].

The unexpanded floral heads contain the vermicide 'santonin'[].

Other Uses

The growing shoots are said to repel insects and mice[, , ], they have also been used as a strewing herb[, ]. An infusion is said to discourage slugs and insects[, ].

Propagation

Seed - surface sow from late winter to early summer in a greenhouse, making sure that the compost does not dry out[]. 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[].
Basal cuttings in late spring. Harvest the young shoots when about 10 - 15cm long, pot up in a lightly shaded position in a greenhouse or cold frame and plant them out when well rooted. Very easy.
Cuttings of half-ripe wood, mid summer in a frame.