Artemisia - A Plant of the Asteraceae Family
Published · Flower Resource
These flowers are the member of Asteraceae Family. These plants are woody based perennial flowers that are 3 foot high and wide clumps which have feathery silver foliage after one year of transplanting. They are herbaceous perennial flowers also known as Pow-is Castle. The flowers are bright yellow in color and they bloom in late summer. They are native to Hybrid cross of Mediterranean and European or Asian parents. Popularly known as sagebrush are woody shrub and aromatic. They are dense 3 to 8 clusters of cream colored or yellow sagebrush flowers.
These plants are considered most bitter plants and thus are chosen as emblem of Abscence. These flowers and plant symbolize Purification and Exorcism and is burned as spiritual cleanser before conducting different types of traditional ceremonies are used in making the medicine amulets and also bundles.
Uses of Artemisia
- It is a very useful medicinal herb used for diabetes to lower blood sugars to the people who have type 2 diabetes.
- It also helps in curing parasitic infections such as flukes, hookworms, tapeworms, pin-worms and roundworms.
- It also helps in curing common cold, upset stomach, jaundice, measles, anxiety, muscle weaknesses and other such conditions.
- The chemicals that the plant contains seem to kill the bacteria and parasites.
- Recently it is also acclaimed as cancer fighting super herb.
- It is also an ornamental plant with edible seeds, flowers, stems, leaves that yield edible or useful oil and this oil is also used for hair growth.
Interesting Facts
- They are cushion, mold and clump shaped flowers.
- They have silver gray and gray green foliage.
- The leaves of this plant have aromatic oils that prevent the herbivores to digest their leaves.
- The foliage as well as fruit of this plant is edible.
- The seeds are black in color and very small.
- Initially the stems of the plant is smooth and silvery but when it matures it turns grayer and starts growing in long strips.
- The trunk bears many side branches which ascend upwards.
Soil Needed
- They require well drained soil.
- It tolerates doughty soil and low fertility.
- They grow well under full sun.
How to Plant?
- They can be easily propagated by cuttings and you can make cuttings in summer.
- But its division is very difficult.
- The plants are long lived when they are grown in poor dry soil.
- It is grown in slightly alkaline loamy soil in a sunny position.
- It is one of the best plants for herb garden.
- Propagate the plant by seeds sowing the seeds from late winter to early summer.
Maintenance and Care
- It is moderately difficult to take care of these plants.
- Flower stalks should be removed to maintain foliage quality.
- Make the cutting frequently so the dead plants are replaced.
- Cut the plant by half if the plants get leggy and open up in summer.
- The plants do not flower often and if they do flower then pinch off the buds before they open.