Common Name: Russian Wormwood

General Information

Artemisia vestita is a perennial plant with more or less woody stems that persist; it can grow 50 - 120cm tall. The plant spreads from a woody rootstock, producing a cluster of much-branched, strongly aromatic stems[].
The plant is harvested from the wild for medicinal use.

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 - Himalayas of Pakistan, India, Nepal andTibet to central and southern China.

Habitat

Hills, rocky slopes, grasslands, shrublands and outer forest margins; at elevations from 2,000 - 4,300 metres[].

Properties

Medicinal Rating
Habit	Perennial
Height	1.20 m
Pollinators	Insects
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 is closely related to Artemisia sacrorum and Artemisia gmelinii - it is often confused with those species[].

Edible Uses

None known

Medicinal

The plant is used in antiinflammatory and antifebrile medicines[].

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.