One of the most beautiful weeds in the garden that can be found unexpectedly is Artemisia (genus). It can be easily recognized by the silvery lace of its sculpted leaves. When removing other weeds from your favorite beds and flower gardens, there is no rush to pull Artemisia(genus) buds directly.
If there are no allergies and Artemisia(genus) does not threaten the position of valuable plants, this weed should instead rejoice that this plant is both beautiful and useful. And this is not only about the medicinal properties of Artemisia(genus). Weed Artemisia (genus) has many cultivated relatives. Its bitterness, strong aroma, and ornamental value should not be underestimated.
WEEDS, MEDICINAL OR DECORATIVE?
Artemisia (genus) is a fantastic group of perennial and biennial herbs and semi-shrubs with beautiful, deeply dissected leaves in various shades of silver and complex panicles composed of hundreds of small baskets.
Their dubious reputation leads to considerable difficulties. artemisia(genus), depending on the approach and viewpoint, can be an invasive or non-aggressive weed, or a deliberately grown plant.
The status of Artemisia(genus) on the plot and its “desirability” determine, above all, its function and purpose of cultivation. Where Artemisia(genus) is deliberately planted (as an accent for silver leaf, decoration for miscellaneous vegetable gardens, medicinal herbs), it should be considered cultural and ornamental.
And you can fight it in only one sense – to prevent self-sowing. Cutting off the inflorescences as they wilt will ensure that there are no scattered weed guests in the garden, except for the coveted Artemisia (genus).
But you shouldn’t automatically count Artemisia(genus) that isn’t scheduled to appear as a weed. Take a closer look and assess whether it is useful. And only remove it when you really need it.
WEED ARTEMISIA IS ALMOST ALWAYS MEDICINAL
Weed Artemisia (genus) is a plant that accidentally arrives on the scene through self-seeding, most often from neighboring neglected areas. Dealing with Artemisia(genus) is not always easy due to its strong roots. This is not always necessary: medicinal and potentially ornamental species lurk beneath the weeds.
Artemisia (genus) is the most common weed. The sculpted, silvery foliage on straight branches creates a slender, tall, luxurious accent. And the choice of varieties with primary colors and the possibility of regenerating the plant by pruning and stimulating new growth in the middle of the season make it very promising in decorative combinations as well.
The sacred tree is the nickname of Artemisia abrotanum, not accidentally given to the medicinal Artemisia abrotanum.
The tall shrubs up to 20inch (0.5m) tall, with dark shoots and green foliage, look amazingly effective and ornamental in both group and solitary plantings. Medicinal Artemisia (genus) is grown as a large ornamental shrub.
Artemisia absinthium is a legendary “widow’s weed” whose ornamental qualities are counterbalanced by its vegetative and oppressive nature. Suppressing neighboring plants (vegetables, annuals, the most beautiful flowering perennials, is particularly dangerous for dahlias, carnations, and legumes), however, Artemisia absinthium is not a pernicious weed.
Its bushes are showy and textured, with an attractive bitter fragrance on a hot sunny day. The unsightly flowering does not in any way hide the silky, blue-green, deeply dissected foliage, which merges into almost continuous mats.
Bitter Artemisia (genus) can be safely planted in open areas away from other plants – in independent colonies. Or as a barrier for protection, but also as a plant renewal and cleaning of the soil in open spaces.
The valuable essential oils, flavonoids, coumarins, and tannins of these Artemisia(genus) are unique. infusions, decoctions, and extracts of Artemisia(genus) are even recognized by traditional medicine as having soothing, analgesic, anti-inflammatory, regulating, cleansing, and healing properties. the leaves of Artemisia(genus) are a valuable and special spice.
ORNAMENTAL ARTEMISIA(GENUS)
Despite all the attractions of the medicinal Artemisia(genus), the ornamental species and varieties differ from them in many ways. And they have been around for a very long time: we have a common misconception that garden Artemisia(genus) is somehow a new trend. But since the 16th century, they have been planted as ornamental plants to decorate flower beds.
Artemisia(genus) is almost the only competitor of Cymbidiums for their living silver. Its absolute simplicity and drought tolerance, combined with its spectacular appearance, make Artemisia (genus) attractive throughout the season.
It brings harmony to the most prolific ensembles. artemisia(genus) can be combined with all shrubs and perennials in flower beds, is easy to cut and shape, grows in any soil (except wet), and is quite diverse in color, texture, and size: from small mats a few tens of centimeters) high to plants over a meter.
The largest species of Artemisia (genus) is still the most spectacular: the
Artemisia rutifolia, a variable grayish-silver semi-shrub up to 80 cm) tall, can form spherical dense clusters of erect shoots with small, twice-dissected leaves.
Artemisia northwest, a fine shrub with aggressive, creeping roots that produces slender, persistent shoots with dense, three-tiered, gray-green leaves.
Messerschmidt, a large semi-shrub up to 80 cm tall), has purple shoots and densely pubescent, greyish-silver leaves with intricate upward-facing lobes.
Artemisia ludoviciana, a clipped, white-silver, narrow-leaved, uniquely textured marginal perennial up to 1 m in height, can form dense thickets.
Artemisia lactiflora, the queen of backdrops and landscape plants, has meter-long shoots and brilliant emerald, large pointed leaves.
Artemisia purshiana – Growing as a lush shrub up to 28inch (70cm) tall, this perennial has unusual solid, lance-shaped ovate, gray-silver foliage.
The best compact, low-growing, up to 20inch (50cm) tall vestibules and fringed decorative Artemisia (genus) species include
Artemisia stelleriana perennial, densely branched, with oval lobes and light silvery foliage, perennial, lush, preferably without flowers.
Artemisia nitida, a pillow plant for stony compositions, with seemingly blue leaves and a deep, rugged, whimsical temperament.
Alemisia Alpina, a white-silver species with a raised, woody bush, short, densely branched shoots, and dense leaves dissected into nearly filiform lobes.
Artemisia frigida spreading dense shrubs with branched shoots, silky leaves, subulate lobes, and bright inflorescence globes.
Artemisia schmidtiana, another spherical cushion-shaped species with narrow pinnate leaves with a lacy texture and a distinctive deep emerald gray-silver color.
Artemisia campestris, a variable species with reddish raised shoots and pinnate, dark blue-green leaves.
Artemisia glomerata is a stout miniature species with dense turf, numerous shoots with bunches of leaves, and tall pedicels crowned with bright yellow compound shields.
Gmelin’s wormwood (Artemisia gmelinii), a robust shrub of 1.5 m long with bushy, broad, clump-like foliage, is grown as an annual garden ornamental and as an alternative to conifers. It easily competes with the pyramidal, dark green, scented, and perfectly sheared annual Artemisia annua.
Artemisia (genus) can be used in garden layouts.
In flower beds.
In mixed gardens.
In rockery.
In imitation ponds.
For borders.
In the medicine and herb gardens.
In landscape compositions.
As container plants.
ARTEMISIA (GENUS) GRASS FOR GARDEN PEST CONTROL
Artemisia (genus) bunch is still used to repel pests such as fleas and mites. There are other ways to use cut Artemisia(genus) in the garden:
- hanging the bundles around the canopy or around the trunk of the tree to prevent fruit infestation.
- Spray infusion or decoction (100 g per 1 liter of water) to control cruciferous fleas, raspberry beetles, whiteflies, gooseberry sawflies, Colorado beetles, aphids, mites, caterpillars, and other pests.
- To spread to repel rodents in vegetable stores.
- In addition, Artemisia (genus) is one of the favorite “nesting” materials for useful birds.
WHEN ARTEMISIA(GENUS) IS A WEED
No matter how much talent Artemisia(genus) has, there are situations where it’s not appropriate in the plot. artemisia(genus) is one of the strongest allergens and can cause serious respiratory problems. If you are allergic to Artemisia(genus), it is well worth taking action against it.
It is worth getting rid of the plant when the “weed” Artemisia(genus) interferes – destroys the normal development of the components that do not allow the main plants in the flower beds and gardens. After all, the role of any Artemisia (genus) is not worth the loss of more valuable perennials or vegetables.
When collecting Artemisia(genus) for medicinal purposes, the plants are pruned at the beginning of flowering to prevent their seed formation. The shrubs and roots are removed by hand and dug up if necessary.
