Plant, harvest and use mugwort

Due to its versatile use, mugwort has a number of names such as goose, broom, lady's or solstice herb. We show how you can plant mugwort, harvest it yourself from the garden and use it.

Because of its medicinal properties, mugwort (Artemisia) has been of great importance since ancient times. But with mugwort you not only get a mere useful plant, but an easy-care and versatile ornamental plant in your garden.

Mugwort: flower, origin and properties

mugwort (Artemisia) is a plant that is distributed worldwide and is also native to us, but its exact origin is unknown. Most species of the daisy family (Asteraceae) belonging to the genus are perennial, slightly woody perennials. Some of these emit a very intense scent that is not popular with everyone. Mugwort is easy to grow and grows quickly, so depending on the species it can reach heights of up to 2 m. However, if you bring it into your garden, you should be careful, because it quickly begins to proliferate and thus take over the garden. With its often silvery, feathery and sometimes hairy leaves and orange-yellow flowers, mugwort is not only an ornamental plant, but also a spice and medicinal plant.

Danger of confusion with mugwort: Some plants may be confused with mugwort. So it resembles many other species of the genus Artemisia, for example wormwood (A absinthium).
Furthermore, mugwort is similar in growth, appearance and leaf shape to mugwort ragweed (Ambrosia artemisiifolia) very similar, which is evident from their name. The mugwort ragweed originally comes from North America, but is also developing more and more in this country Problematic weeds, as their pollen has a strong allergenic effect and they are also used as weeds in agriculture occurs. The distinction between mugwort and mugwort ragweed is easy based on the leaves, since they are green on both sides of mugwort ragweed instead of silver on one side.

Types and varieties of mugwort

The genus Artemisia includes over 250 species. Some mugwort species will be briefly introduced here.

mugwort (A vulgaris): Native to us, up to 1.20 m high species of mugwort; alleged digestive properties; Use as a seasoning for fatty foods.

Annual mugwort (A annual) also Chinese mugwort: One of the few non-hardy mugwort species that usually does not flower here; fast growing; height up to 2 m; suitable for temporary hedges with its dense foliage; caused a stir a few years ago because it contains an active ingredient against malaria.

Dwarf silver sagebrush (A Schmidtiana): Only about 20 cm high; cushion-like growth and filigree, silvery leaves; a wonderful companion to dark-leaved ornamental plants.

sagebrush (A ludviciana): A type of mugwort originally from North America, where the Indians used it for their ceremonies, since its strong scent makes it suitable for incense; in Europe mainly used as an ornamental plant, for example in Mediterranean gardens.

Tip: The 250 species of the genus also include a few other well-known perennials that are planted in many gardens for their scent and appearance. These include, for example, tarragon (A dacunculus), vermouth (A absinthium) or the so-called cola bush (A abrotanum var. maritime), which smells intensely of cola.

Planting mugwort: sowing, location and procedure

Mugwort is best sown outdoors from May. It makes relatively few demands on the site, but prefers sunny, well-drained and nutrient-rich spots. If you have very clayey, firm soil, organic matter and lots of sand will help to loosen the soil and improve permeability. In the case of very dense soil, it may even be necessary to loosen the soil deeply, for example with a digging fork, in order to avoid waterlogging. In order to bring in organic material and nutrients, we recommend ours, for example Plantura organic universal soil, as it provides the nitrogen-loving plants with optimal starting conditions. When producing the peat-free soil, up to 60% less CO is also used compared to conventional soils₂ released. It is important to mix the soil well with the sand and the existing soil.

Since mugwort grows quickly and large, 2 to 3 seeds should be sown 70 cm apart. After a few weeks, only the strongest seedling is left standing. Mugwort needs light to germinate, which is why it should only be lightly covered with soil.

Tip: Mugwort can also be preferred on the windowsill from the beginning of March. Simply place the individual seeds in small pots filled with soil and only lightly cover them with soil. At an optimal germination temperature of 18 to 23 °C, the first seedlings should appear after about fourteen days. From mid-May, the plantlets can then be placed in their final location.

The right care: Is mugwort hardy?

Until Artemis annua are the types of mugwort hardy. However, the entire above-ground part of the mugwort plant dies over the winter, so that everything that does not like it can be cut off in late autumn. Mugwort will then sprout out of the rootstock again in the spring.

Fertilize mugwort:
As a rule, mugwort does not need to be fertilized. As an indicator of nitrogen-rich soil, however, it grows more vigorously if it is sufficiently supplied with this main nutrient. Therefore, nitrogen-rich fertilizers, such as ours Plantura organic universal fertilizer, remedy and increase growth. Since it mainly contains raw materials of organic and non-mineral origin, the organic universal fertilizer also contributes to a good soil structure and counteracts compaction.

Pouring mugwort:
Mugwort only needs to be watered during long, hot dry periods, as it is basically adapted to dry locations.

tip: To prevent widespread spread, mugwort flowers can be harvested before they open. This way the seeds cannot spread.

Harvesting and using mugwort

The closed flowers are usually harvested at the beginning of the flowering period of mugwort between June and July. Older flowers and leaves contain significantly more bitter substances. Mugwort can be used both fresh and dried. To make it durable, you harvest approx. 40-60 cm long branches with flowers and hang them in a warm, airy place to dry.

Nowadays, mugwort is mostly used as a culinary herb. It contains the essential oils camphor, cineole and thujone, which have a germ and fungus inhibiting effect and is rich in bitter substances. On the one hand, this protects it from predators and, on the other hand, it supports our digestion, which is why mugwort is often added as a spice to high-fat dishes, such as the classic roast goose. But its use is not limited to that. With its bitter and aromatic, spicy taste, the young mugwort leaves can be used in salads or the flowers can be used as part of a Mediterranean herbal mixture. A common use as a home remedy is, for example, the preparation of a simple mugwort tea for stomach problems. For this, 1 teaspoon of dried mugwort is poured over a cup of boiling water and left to steep for 1 – 2 minutes.

Tip: As already mentioned, mugwort has been considered an important medicinal herb since ancient times. Various effects have been ascribed to it over the centuries. For example, it was used as a medicine for childbirth and women's diseases or for abortion. This also explains the Latin name, which goes back to Artemis, who was the midwife among the Greek gods. The Celts attributed mugwort to magical properties, which is why they wore it to dance at the midsummer celebrations.

Is mugwort poisonous?

As long as the amount consumed is small, it is harmless to most people and has antispasmodic and pain-relieving effects. However, since mugwort contains the essential oil thujone, which is considered harmful to health, excessive dosage can lead to vomiting, among other things. Pregnant women should therefore completely avoid the use of mugwort to be on the safe side. People who have an allergy to daisy family can have an allergic reaction to mugwort. Animals are generally uninterested in the rather coarse, hard stalks. And even if they try, even small amounts are not harmful to animals.

If you want to know more plants of the Artemisia genus, you can, for example, read our article about vermouth Continue reading.