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Southernwood - Artemisia abrotanum

Type: Perennial

Southernwood, or Artemesia abrotanum, is a perennial woody shrub found in Europe. Southernwood is known by many other names including Oldman Wormwood, Garden Sagebrush, European Sage, Southern Wormwood, Lemon Plant and Lad's Love

It forms a bushy shrub with small yellow flowers appearing in warmer climates, and as it is easy to cultivate and care for, it is widely cultivated by gardeners. It is also suitable for container growing.

Preferring light, humus rich soil and a sunny site, Southernwood will fourish in most gardens, and will require a hard cutting back in spring to keep its habit neat.

The leaves of Southernwood are narrow and feathery, and grey-green in colour, and have a strong lemony camphor-like odour. This resulted in it being used historically as an air freshener or strewing herb. Southernwood was also used to make a tea, although it needs to be sweetened with honey as it can be bitter. Dried leaves put into a muslin bag will keep away moths, and the leaves are also very pretty for flower arrangements.