The wildwood has the botanical name Artemisia abrotanum and belongs to the sunflower family. Colloquially, the plant is also known as cola herb and is closely related to mugwort, tarragon and wormwood. The cola bush has been known as a popular aromatic and scented herb since ancient times. With the right care and the right location conditions, the heat-loving plant can also be grown successfully in this country.
Sowing & planting
The cola herb is easy to sow, this process is usually very reliable. However, it is not always possible to harvest seeds from specimens growing in this country, as most of them often do not bloom in the local climate. If you live in high mountain areas, you should first prefer young plants indoors and only release them in late spring. The cola bush is suitable for standing alone, as a group plant and for cultivation in planters. However, it is always important to keep a sufficient distance when planting, as the plant tends to overgrow. Otherwise the neighboring plants will quickly feel threatened. However, many useful and ornamental plants benefit from the common rue because it forms essential oils that keep unwelcome predators at bay. However, Artemisia abrotanum should not grow too close to other medicinal plants. Its leaves contain growth-inhibiting substances that can be transferred to neighboring medicinal plants.
- Carry out sowing in April
- Cola herb is a light germ
- Only scatter seeds loosely on the ground
- Then press carefully and do not cover
- Then keep the soil slightly moist
- Planting of preferred specimens takes place in spring
- In colder regions, only run after the ice saints
- Maintain a planting distance of at least 50 cm
- Cola shrub reaches a size of up to 1.50 m
- Also grows extremely wide
Location & plant substrate
The wild boar has its original home in the Middle East, which is why it is used to warm and often very hot local conditions. For this reason, the cola herb does not feel comfortable in shady and cool places, it also does not tolerate too damp and compacted soils. In this case, the substrate must be loosened up and improved, either with pumice, gravel, sand, stones or zeolite. In a place that is too dark, there is often no flowering, just like after a cold, wet spring and summer. The plant needs a lot of sun to produce beautiful flowers in summer
to drive out. It is also important that there is sufficient space for the neighboring plants. The plant used to adorn the edges of spice and herb beds in many a cottage garden. Artemisia abrotanum also fits very well in apothecary gardens, in the courtyard of country houses and in Mediterranean gardens.- Warm and full sun locations are ideal
- Pay attention to wind-protected conditions
- Regions with mild weather conditions are ideal
- Thrives well in wine-growing areas
- Works well in rock gardens
- Can be cultivated in the flower pot on the balcony or terrace
- Prefers calcareous, well drained and humus-rich soils
- Likes stony to sandy soil conditions
- A weakly alkaline to neutral pH value is good
Note: If the soil is very poor in lime, it is advisable to enrich it with garden lime from specialist shops.
Watering & fertilizing
The rowan tree copes much better with drought than with too much moisture, so the plant should not be excessively watered. If the cola herb is cultivated in the garden bed, the normal rainfalls are usually sufficient. However, it is advisable to add additional watering during the extremely hot and dry summer months. If Artemisia abrotanum is in a tub on the covered balcony or terrace, additional casting units are also required. In addition, the plant is a poor eater, so it does not need regular fertilizers. However, it is helpful to prepare the soil with a light fertilizer when planting. In this way, the cola plant finds a balanced nutrient content in the substrate.
- Only water moderately, only when the top layer of soil is dry
- Tolerates calcareous tap water
- Keep the plant substrate dry to slightly moist
- Cope well with occasional dry spells
- Absolutely does not like waterlogging
- Water potted plants more often
- The root ball must never dry out completely
- Low nutritional requirements
- Fertilize about once a year in spring
- Horn shavings or compost are ideal as fertilizers
- Use lime-based long-term fertilizers when keeping them in buckets
Cut
If there is enough space, it is not necessary to cut the boar's diamond. However, pruning is recommended in order to bring the Artemisia abrotanum into shape and to keep overgrown areas in check. Otherwise, neighboring plants are quickly affected and prevented from growing. In high mountain areas is also
pruning in late autumn makes sense so that the frosty temperature values do not damage the plant. After that, the cola bush does not grow so high and wide in the next year, the growth remains rather small and manageable. Therefore, extreme winter pruning is also suitable for potted plants that grow in smaller containers.- Carry out shaping pruning in spring
- Remove dead and dried out parts of the plant
- Radical pruning before winter makes sense
- Cut the plant down to the ground
- Will sprout again in spring
- Use only sharp cutting tools
- Disinfect cut surfaces well beforehand
Multiply
The cola herb can be propagated by cuttings and the division of the rootstock. However, it should be noted that when propagating with cuttings, it takes a relatively long time for roots to form. There is also no guarantee of success with this method. The shoots that arise in spring from the pruning can be used for this. Dividing the rhizome usually works without any problems. However, care should be taken to handle the plants gently so as not to harm them unnecessarily.
- In spring cut long shoots with the tip of the shoots
- Slightly lignified cuttings are ideal
- Put in a pot with a moist plant substrate and some sand
- Put the transparent foil and bag over the container
- Works as a mini greenhouse
- Stick directly into the ground in mild regions
- Alternatively, divide the rhizome
- Remove the plant and its roots from the ground
- Carefully expose the roots
- Then divide and plant again
Leaves & flowering period
The Eberraute is a perennial and evergreen subshrub that gives off a strongly aromatic scent. The cola bush forms a strong rhizome that can branch out into the ground. At first the shoots grow upright and after a while branch upwards in a panicle-like shape. In addition, the stems lignify from below over time. With good site conditions and optimal care, strong growth quickly sets in, which is why pruning is essential. Due to the wide range of possible uses, it is worth harvesting the leaves. In this way, the growth is kept manageable.
- Grows about 70-150 cm high, about 60 cm wide
- Forms finely pinnate and silvery green leaves
- The foliage is narrow and alternate
- Leaves are covered with many scent glands
- Exude a sweet, lemony scent
- Flowering time is from July to October
- Spherical flower heads stand in dense panicles
- But flowers are only 3-4 mm in size
- Flower color is pale yellow to green
Harvest & use
The cola herb has been used for thousands of years, as a herb in the kitchen and as a medicinal plant for health problems. It is also suitable as a room fragrance due to its intense fragrances. The delicate shoot tips of the plant, which can be freshly harvested all summer long, are used. The leaves produce the highest active ingredient content in July and August. However, due to its essential oils, the herb can only be used sparingly in the kitchen. Before using, the shoot tips should dry in an airy place. When used in the kitchen, the dried herb should be kept tightly closed in a container. In addition, the cola bush can be found in the household after drying
many areas of its use.- Shoot tips smell of lemon
- Slightly bitter taste of cola
- Go well with dark sauces and roasts
- Fatty foods in particular benefit from the addition
- Dry the cabbage and use it as a potpourri
- Spicy leaves with a strong smell keep insects away
- Packed in sachets, the herb can be used in many ways
- Fragrance notes prevent voracious moths in the cupboard
- Can be used as a flea repellent in animal husbandry
- Has healing properties on the human body
- Brew as a tea and consume regularly
- Has an appetizing effect and strengthens the stomach
- Promotes menstruation and helps against cramps
- Is suitable for the production of a worming agent
Tip: A bitter tonic can be made from the cola herb, which stimulates digestion and can alleviate the symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome.
Overwinter
The cola bush is only partially hardy, as the plant has its original home in warm countries. Therefore, their deep freezing temperatures and long-lasting frosts can be very tough. Especially in high mountain areas with a long and frosty winter, the plant is dependent on additional protection from the cold. In contrast, the crop does not need additional protection in regions with a mild winter. However, it is advisable to protect the soil from excessive moisture in winter. In addition, the plant should be cut back close to the ground in the garden bed if there are severe winters. In addition, the roots must also be protected from extreme frost. If the cola herb is cultivated in a bucket, wintering in a winter quarter is a good idea.
- Wrap heavily trimmed plants with plant fleece
- Mulch the ground with autumn leaves
- Lay out sticks above the roots
- Wrap the remaining tubs outside in fleece
- Bucket should be hardy
- Place the vessel on the styrofoam mat
- Place in a protected corner, ideally in front of a sunny wall
- Alternatively, move to an unheated winter garden
- A summer house or a bright attic is also possible
Note: Clay buckets look nice, but are not suitable for extreme frost, as these containers can break apart.
Diseases & pests
In the cola bush, diseases and pests are relatively rare. Thanks to the essential oils, the plant even keeps pests off, which could also attack the neighboring plants. That is why the cola herb is often found in mixed cultures between other garden plants. In this way, the cola bush keeps the dreaded cabbage white butterfly away from the cabbage thanks to its strong fragrances. However, with incorrect care and unsuitable site conditions, certain pests can settle more easily, for example different types of aphids. Their excretions shine as sticky honeydew on which sooty fungi can settle. Since the sooty fungi also weaken Artemisia abrotanum, suitable measures to combat it are necessary in a timely manner. In addition, the roots are often damaged by waterlogging, so that the plant withers and dies.
- Generally very robust plant
- Weak specimens are susceptible to aphids
- They cause damage to leaves and shoots through suction
- Recognizable by deformed shoot tips
- Notes are also rolled up leaves that yellow and dry up
- Rinse pests with a sharp jet of water
- Spray the affected areas with a solution of water and curd soap
- Use chemical antidotes only in an extreme emergency
