Common Name:

General Information

Artemisia japonica is a strongly aromatic, herbaceous, perennial plant growing 50 - 130cm tall from a thick, woody rhizome. The plant produces a cluster of stems that are branched above[, ].
The plant is harvested from the wild for use as a medicine, incense and possibly also a food.

Known Hazards

Although we have seen no specific reports for this species, many members of this genus contain potentially allergenic sesquiterpene lactones that can cause skin reactions[].

Botanical References

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Range

E. Asia - Russian Far East (Primorye),China, Japan, Korea, Afghanistan, Pakistan, India, Nepal, Myanmar, Thailand, Laos, Vietnam, Philippines.

Habitat

Sunny hills and low elevations in mountains all over Japan[]. Forest margins, waste areas, shrublands, hills, slopes and roadsides; from low elevations to 3,300 metres[].

Properties

Edibility Rating
Medicinal Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Perennial
Height	1.00 m
Pollinators	Insects
Cultivation Status	Wild

Cultivation Details

Judging by the plants native range (it is found as far north as Primorye in the Russian Far East), Artemisia japonica should be quite winter hardy and able to be grown in much of the temperate zone. We do, however, have one report that it can only be grown in the milder regions, being able to tolerate temperatures only down to between -5 to -10°c[]. Plants are longer lived, more hardy and more aromatic when they are grown in a poor dry soil[].
Easily grown in a well-drained circumneutral or slightly alkaline loamy soil, preferring a warm sunny dry position[, ]. Established plants are drought tolerant[].
Members of this genus are rarely if ever troubled by browsing deer[].

Edible Uses

Young leaves - cooked. Used as a vegetable[].

Medicinal

The leaves are digestive[]. A decoction of the leaves is said to promote a plump figure, but too much is said to be deleterious and can cause hypertension[].
The expressed juice of the plant is used in the treatment of vaginitis[, ]. It is also used to treat skin diseases[].
The plant is used for making detoxifying and antifebrile drugs[].

Other Uses

The powder of the dried plant is used as an incense[].

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 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.