Common Name: Beach Wormwood

General Information

Artemisia stelleriana is a herbaceous perennial plant with a slender, creeping rhizome. It produces stems 20 - 60cm tall, forming a mat of growth[, ].
The plant is harvested from the wild for use as a flavouring in rice dumplings. An attractive ornamental, it is often grown in gardens, where it can be used as a ground cover[].
The plant has often escaped from cultivation and become naturalized in parts of N. America[].

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

, ,

Range

E. Asia - Russian Far East, Japan, Korea; Northern N. America - Alaska

Habitat

Sand dunes and coastal cliffs, C. and N. Japan[, ]. In river mouths and usually along sandy-gravelly seacoasts, sometimes on rubbly slopes near the sea[].

Properties

Weed Potential	Yes
Edibility Rating
Habit	Evergreen Perennial
Height	0.50 m
Pollinators	Insects
Cultivation Status	Ornamental, Wild

Cultivation Details

Requires a well-drained sandy soil and a sunny position[]. Established plants are drought tolerant[]. Grows well in maritime areas and in cold gardens[, ]. Plants are longer lived, more hardy and more aromatic when they are grown in a poor dry soil[].
Some named forms have been selected for their ornamental value[].
Members of this genus are rarely if ever troubled by browsing deer[].

Edible Uses

The leaves are used for flavouring rice dumplings[, , ].

Medicinal

None known

Agroforestry Uses:

Plants can be grown as ground cover in a sunny position[], they are of sprawling habit[].

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 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.