Common Name:

General Information

Artemisia princeps is a herbaceous, perennial plant growing 60 - 150cm tall[].
The plant is harvested from the wild for use as a food flavouring and a medicine. It is commonly used as a flavouring and colouring when making 'mochi'.

Known Hazards

Many members of this genus contain contain potentially allergenic sesquiterpene lactones that can cause skin reactions. Although this species has been found to contain them, there have been no reports that it has caused dermatitis[].

Botanical References

,

Range

E. Asia - much of China, Japan, Korea.

Habitat

Waste ground and thickets in lowland and low elevations, central and southern Japan[]. Roadsides, slopes, shrublands, forest margins, valleys, riverbanks; at elevations up to 1,400 metres[].

Properties

Edibility Rating
Medicinal Rating
Habit	Perennial
Height	1.20 m
Pollinators	Wind
Cultivation Status	Wild

Cultivation Details

Species in this genus are generally easily grown, succeeding in a well-drained circumneutral or slightly alkaline loamy soil, preferring a sunny position[, ]. They tend to be longer lived, more hardy and more aromatic when they are grown in a poor dry soil[].
Established plants are drought tolerant.
Members of this genus are rarely if ever troubled by browsing deer[].
This species spreads rapidly by means of underground stolons and can become invasive[].

Edible Uses

Leaves and young seedlings - raw or cooked[, ]. Used in salads and soups after the bitterness has been removed[].
After being lightly boiled the young leaves are pounded into glutinous-rice dumplings (known as 'mochi'). They impart a delightful aroma, flavour and colour[]. Mugwort mochi is often sold in N. American health food stores[].

Medicinal

Bitter[].
The plant is used medicinally[].

Other Uses

None known

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.