Types of wormwood photo with name. Medicinal properties of wormwood

V.Nelyubina

All the diversity of wormwood fields is at the service of demonologists today! All types of wormwood have magical properties, in particular, the “common wormwood” that surprises no one. Wormwood is a plant named after Artemis, the Greek goddess of the hunt, who was considered the ruler of wild animals. The goddess not only entertained herself with hunting, but also protected pristine nature from human intervention, keeping it intact. Therefore, her gift - wormwood - was called “Artemisia” (Latin), “Artemisa” (Greek). Translated from Greek, this means “inviolability” or “ good health", if we take a broader meaning. Wormwood is a gift from Artemis not only to animals, but also to women. Especially those whom the goddess favored - those as young and chaste as herself.

Wormwood entered Christian folklore under the name of the herb of St. John. The end of June is the flowering period of this herb, but this is not the only reason why wormwood received this nickname. But because it was often used for the summer solstice, throwing it into ritual, traditional bonfires. Young people dancing around the flames hung wormwood wreaths and garlands on themselves, and then threw them into the fire in order to protect themselves from illness for the entire next year.

Wormwood grass

And the steppe grass smells bitter...

Russian - “wormwood” comes from “flight” - Slavic “to burn”, from the bitter taste that makes the mouth burn. Wormwood bitterness is a sign of human suffering and tears, sadness and grief.

"Bitter, like wormwood grass." It is unlikely that many of us would have thought to try wormwood on a tooth, however, this metaphor creates a very vivid image. Indeed, it is unlikely that it will be possible to find a more bitter herb than wormwood. The plant owes its bitter taste to a group of medicinal substances contained in it. These medicinal substances, glycosides, are deceptive by their name (“glycoz” (Greek) - sweet), having an unusually bitter taste. You won’t interrupt him with anything later and you won’t spit back.

Wormwood is surrounded by an aura of mysticism and covered in poetic legends. In ancient times, people believed that wormwood was bitter because it absorbed the taste of human suffering and disappointment, but now it is able to heal illnesses and instill confidence in travelers. There is a belief that taking a bunch of wormwood with you on a journey will drive away feelings of hopelessness and protect against fatigue on a long journey.

Even on the pages of chronicles of the 13th century, a legend about a bunch of wormwood appears. However, it became famous only later, based on poems by A. Maykov.

In ancient times, the Polovtsian army, led by two khans - the brothers Otrok and Syrchan, met on the battlefield with Russian soldiers led by Prince Monomakh and was defeated. He fled into the depths of the Syrchan steppes. The Youth left for the Caucasus. Years have passed. Syrchan gathered great strength in the steppes and began to call his brother to him. He repeatedly invited him to return to his native land. However, the Youth had already forgotten the legends and songs of his ancestors; he was no longer attracted to his homeland. He stopped yearning, having settled down in a foreign land.

Then Syrchan ordered to send his brother a bunch of steppe wormwood. The wormwood grass stirred up memories, and the Youth could not resist the call of his native land and ordered the horses to be saddled.

However, an even more ancient belief came to us from the great, who believed that wormwood was a plant that could protect sailors from seasickness.

Medicinal uses of wormwood

The grayish-silver plant is ubiquitous. It has taken a liking to steppe wormwood and wastelands; it is easy to find along roads and railroad tracks. She is not a rare visitor near homes, and she simply adores neglected vegetable gardens.

Traditional medicine attributes wormwood to many useful properties. Its infusions strengthen the gastrointestinal tract, and the spicy, slightly bitter substance helps increase appetite. By the way, scientific medicine agrees on these points with folk wisdom.

Wormwood is used in in a variety of ways. These can be tinctures, powders, decoctions, even lotions and compresses, which, by the way, are an excellent remedy for bruises, sprains and dislocations. Wormwood has a disinfecting effect.

There are over 4 hundred species in the genus wormwood. The pharmacopoeia includes santonin, isolated from cypress wormwood, growing in Kazakh latitudes. However, researchers from Odessa state university, that santonin from plants of the Ukrainian steppes is no worse than the Kazakh one.

Chernobyl or, in fact, common wormwood is widely used in folk medicine as a sedative. However, the Ministry of Health does not recommend getting carried away with self-medication, as is the case with other medications.

Made from wormwood alcoholic drink called absinthe, the heroes of Remarque’s works are famous for their special passion for it. However, scientists have found that frequent consumption of this tincture leads to chronic poisoning nervous system Therefore, in many countries the production of absinthe is prohibited.

Life and magical properties

One of the beneficial properties of wormwood was suggested to people... by birds. This is how field sparrows carry fresh leaves of this plant to their nests. The wormwood aroma drives away insects from their nests, which are especially annoying to their chicks. Following the example of these birds, some housewives also remove insects and other unpleasant bugs, such as moths, from the house.

Wormwood is a magically powerful plant, second on the list of the most “magical” herbs. It restores the harmonious connections between man and nature. With a strong concentration of wormwood smoke, especially susceptible people can see creatures of the subtle world. They say that this was the reason for the rather rare use of wormwood. But those who are not afraid of contacts with otherworldly creatures willingly use its properties.

Wormwood has long been known as a plant-amulet. This protector is especially effective against aquatic evil spirits. According to legends, for example, when meeting a person, he will certainly ask him the question: “Wormwood or parsley?” Don't go wrong with your choice! If you answer “parsley,” then the water beast, shouting “You’re my darling,” will drag the unlucky fortuneteller under the water. But from the “wormwood” it itself will shy away, shouting “Come on, you, perish!”

However, much more often, wormwood was actually used in the form of incense. It was considered absolutely safe to hang a bunch of wormwood in the house - in a bullfight or bedroom, in order to ward off water evil spirits.

They used wormwood wreaths to guess about fate on the night of Ivan Kupala. A wreath could be hung over the door of the hut to avoid the threshold of quarrels and misfortunes. And very bad omen It was counted if the wreath fell or was torn. According to legend, this evil witchcraft tried to get to the inhabitants of the house. Herbal magicians claim that the anti-demonic properties of this plant increase as it decreases. There is even a special day on which wormwood is supposed to be collected for this purpose. This is done on Dormition, at the end of August. But for medicinal purposes, herbalists do not limit us to the preparation time.

Let's look again at what our ancestors used wormwood for and how they did it:

To protect your home

• A bath with a useful additive in the form of wormwood will become a cleanser from all evil.
• Wormwood will not allow evil and elves into the home. For this purpose, in China it is hung above the door. For the Chinese, mugwort had the virtue of being one of the Eight Supreme Jewels.
• A lighted sprig of wormwood or thrown into a cauldron should protect the house from lightning and storms.
• This plant is a talisman for children in the house.
• A wormwood amulet will protect a friend or lover from all troubles during separation and will contribute to his safe return.

In Japan, residents, having discovered traces of a thief who looked at them “for a glimpse,” burn Chernobyl on them. According to legend, this will tie the robber's legs, and then the police will catch up with him.

Despite its magical potential, wormwood is in a certain sense a rather whimsical herb. Despite its prevalence, it grows slowly, and sprouts from seeds and “does not like” at all. Therefore, for those who, having become familiar with wonderful properties wormwood, is already packing a backpack, getting ready to go on a hike for Chernobyl, experts advise not to cut wormwood to the very root. Cut off the top; you won’t actually need the stem for work, and the greatest power of wormwood is hidden in its buds.

However, we should not forget that this plant is far from the most harmless in the world of magical herbs. Uncontrolled use of large doses of wormwood-based drugs can cause significant harm body, lead to nervous system disorders, cause fainting and cause convulsions.

The herb and leaves of wormwood reflexively stimulate the function of the glands of the gastrointestinal tract, increase bile secretion and significantly increase digestion. They have bactericidal and anti-inflammatory effects.

Used as a bitter to stimulate appetite and improve the functioning of the digestive system.

Long-term use of wormwood can cause mild poisoning.

Substances used to obtain drugs.

1. Wormwood herb. Included in the preparation “Collection to stimulate appetite” (Species amarae).

2. Wormwood extract is thick. Included in the preparation “Stomach tablets with belladonna extract” (Tabulettae stomachieae cum extracto Belladonnae).

3. Tincture of wormwood. Used for the production of preparations “Wormwood tincture” (Tinctura Absinthii), “Bitter tincture” (Tinctura amara).

Flowers of wormwood (Flores Cinae). Wormwood (Artemisia cina). Asteraceae. Endemic. Distributed in the semi-deserts of Southern Kazakhstan and Northern Tajikistan. It grows in flat plain areas, ravines, above-floodplain terraces, and on southern light saline gray soils. Industrial procurement is carried out only in the Chimkent region of Kazakhstan.

Due to significant side effects, the use of wormwood flowers is currently limited. Sometimes they are prescribed as an anthelmintic for ascariasis, mainly in pediatric practice in combination with a laxative. The flowers are ground in a mortar and taken with sugar, syrup or honey.

Birch buds (Gemmae Betulae). Birch leaves (Folia Betulae). Silver birch, B. downy (Betula pendula, B. Pubescens).Birch trees (Betulaceae). Silver birch has a wide range, covering the entire European part of Russia (except for the Far North and South), Western and partially Central Siberia, Northern Kazakhstan, Western Tien Shan and the Caucasus. In the east, the range of silver birch reaches Baikal. Downy birch is common in the same area, but penetrates further to the north and replaces silver birch on marshy soils.

Birch buds contain up to 5% essential oil, which includes the sesquiterpenes betulin, betulol and caryophyllene.

Birch buds should be collected in January-March, before they bloom (before the scales at the top of the bud diverge). Branches that have buds are cut, tied into bundles (brooms) and dried in this form for 3-4 weeks. outdoors or in well-ventilated areas. After drying, the buds are threshed and cleaned of impurities.

Birch leaves are harvested in the first half of summer during the period of their full development.

Birch buds and leaves have diuretic, choleretic, diaphoretic and antiseptic effects.

As a diuretic, birch buds are used for edema of cardiac origin. Choleretic and antimicrobial properties are used in complex therapy of liver diseases. As an antiseptic and expectorant - for respiratory diseases (laryngitis, bronchitis, tracheitis).

Birch leaves are often used as a diuretic and diaphoretic, as well as for mild forms of cholecystitis.

Birch sap is effective means to remove sand from the kidneys and bladder, and is also a general tonic.

Birch leaf extract. Included in the preparations “Uroflux” (Urofluxum) and “Phytolisinum” (Phytolisinum).

Arnica flowers (FloresArnicae). Mountain arnica (Arnicamontana), A. leafy (A. foliosa), A. Chamisso (A. Chamissonis). Asteraceae. It grows mainly in the high-mountain meadows of the Carpathians, and is found in the Baltic states and Belarus.

Arnica flower preparations have bactericidal, anti-inflammatory and hemostatic effects.

Used to treat infected wounds, bruises, various pustular skin diseases, uterine, hemorrhoidal and gastrointestinal bleeding.

Substance used to obtain drugs.

Arnica tincture. Used for the production of preparations “Arnica tincture” (Tinctura Arnicae), “Pepper plaster” (Emplastrum Capsici).

Wormwood is a plant that is mentioned many times in the Bible and depicts the retribution of sinners, suffering, and falling away from the Creator. In Russian folk songs, epics, and sayings, wormwood was often mentioned as a symbol of bitterness and melancholy...

The Holy Fathers also used wormwood in comparisons:

“Just as bitter wormwood is beneficial for those who have poor digestion, so it is beneficial for the evil-willed to endure bitter misfortunes: for these medicines bring health to those, and repentance to those.”

Venerable Mark the Ascetic

“Annoyance, humiliation and all similar cases in the soul of a novice are likened to wormwood bitterness, and praise, honor and approval are like honey. But wormwood cleanses all internal impurity, and honey usually increases bile.”

Venerable John Climacus

“...life, with the memory of God and following one’s conscience, in itself is an inexhaustible source of spiritual joys, compared with which earthly joys are like wormwood before honey...”

Saint Theophan the Recluse

Wormwood herb is very popular in our time for its medicinal properties. Quite frequently visited articles have been published on the Internet, which describe the properties of wormwood with incorrect illustrations: instead of the required wormwood, photos of common wormwood (Chernobyl) are displayed. However, anyone can make a mistake, so we’ll give you the pictures right away. various types wormwood:

There is a legend that in ancient Rome wormwood was considered a gift from the goddess Artemis, and this perennial plant was named after her herbaceous plant– Artemisia absintium. It was believed that wormwood gives soldiers fearlessness and strength, relieves fatigue on long campaigns, relieves muscle pain, and protects against poisoning.

Wormwood grows everywhere: both in the village and in the city, it can be seen along roads and highways, in wastelands and forests. This is facilitated by the unpretentiousness of wormwood to soil composition and weather conditions.

The very strong aromatic, tart smell and very bitter taste of wormwood is used in the alcoholic beverage industry for the production of Absinthe and Vermouth. In some countries, wormwood is grown specifically for this purpose. By the way, vermouth is another name for wormwood.

The genus of wormwood is very numerous; they differ both in appearance and in chemical composition, therefore their medicinal properties are different. The most common species is wormwood and can be found in many countries and regions.

The stem and leaves of wormwood are silky, grayish-silver due to the abundance of tiny hairs on the upper surface of the leaves. This is a very important sign to find wormwood. On the bushing stems there are leaves, which become smaller and simpler closer to the inflorescences.

Baskets of small flowers are collected into an inflorescence of a complex panicle, from a distance reminiscent of a mimosa branch from old postcards, which is not a mimosa at all, but silver acacia(by the way, the tropical mimosa hostilis itself was recognized as a drug).

In July-August, you can observe the rich silver inflorescences with golden splashes of flowering wormwood and inhale their specific “wormwood” smell.

Medicinal properties of wormwood

The chemical composition of wormwood is much wider than that of other types of wormwood.

Contains in leaves and grass essential oil, bitter glycosides absintin and anabsintin, phytoncides, tannins, resins, vitamins C and B6, carotene (provitamin A), succinic, acetic, malic acids, protein, starch.

In folk medicine, wormwood uses all parts of the plant: both above-ground and underground.

This time-tested home remedy:

• stimulates appetite
• improves digestion by stimulating the secretion of the digestive glands,
• enhances the secretion of pancreatic juice and bile (mezim is not needed),

has an analgesic effect,

hemostatic,

external antiseptic.

Used internally for:

• indigestion,
• diarrhea,
• gastritis with reduced acidity,
• stomach pain,
• stomach colic,
• flatulence,
• for diseases of the liver and gall bladder as a choleretic and diuretic,
• at bad work pancreas,
• in the complex treatment of food allergies,
• anemia,
• depression,
• insomnia,
• bad breath,
• for hemorrhoids,
• fever,
• tuberculosis,
• articular rheumatism,
• gout,
• epilepsy,
• with insufficient and irregular menstruation,
• for rapid treatment of conjunctivitis,
• externally for bruise, dislocation, arthritis, arthrosis, osteochondrosis, vertebral hernia.

In addition, wormwood was used as a remedy for fleas in animals and lice in humans, and also as an anthelmintic. This is not a complete list of the uses of wormwood in folk medicine.

To prepare the infusion, you need 10 grams of chopped herbs / 1 level tablespoon / pour a glass of boiling water in a thermos. After 30 minutes you can strain everything. Take the bitter infusion, measuring 1 tablespoon, 30 minutes before meals. Store wormwood infusion in a cool place.

The plant is poisonous chemical substances wormwood can accumulate in the body with prolonged use.

Long-term use, including large doses, can lead to poisoning. Therefore, a course of no more than 1 month is recommended, with a break of 1-2 months between courses.

It should be noted that wine with wormwood (absinthe), with constant consumption, can also cause poisoning, which is manifested by severe nervous diseases, the development of so-called wormwood epilepsy, confusion, hallucinations, fainting, and vomiting is possible.

In medical practice, wormwood preparations are recommended for gastritis with low acidity, enterocolitis, in the complex treatment of food allergies, as a means of increasing appetite after severe illnesses accompanied by exhaustion, in the complex treatment of diseases of the blood and spleen.

Dosage forms in official medicine are alcohol tincture, water infusion, extract (in homeopathy), essential oil.

Wormwood tincture is sold in pharmacies. It should be taken 20 minutes before meals, 15-20 drops.

Timing and methods of collecting wormwood

Collect root and stem leaves before or at the beginning of flowering, in May-June. Flowering tops are collected during flowering in July-August.

Dry in the open air or in a well-ventilated room, laying out layers of grass no more than 5 cm. Drying wormwood under an iron roof is not recommended.

Use of wormwood in folk medicine

In Russian villages back in the 50-60s of the twentieth century, houses were fumigated with wormwood smoke to prevent bedbugs and fleas. For the same purpose, wormwood brooms were steamed and the walls and floors of the home were washed; wormwood brooms were prepared for disinfection of the Russian bathhouse, as well as for treating joints and the spine in the bathhouse. Many people, especially those familiar with village life Since childhood, the “Russian spirit” has been associated precisely with the smell of wormwood and the Russian bathhouse.

This scent is now available to anyone who can afford to buy a bottle of wormwood essential oil. Wormwood essential oil is obtained from the herb through distillation. It also has medicinal properties - antiseptic, bactericidal, analgesic, expectorant, and decongestant. The smell of wormwood is used in aromatherapy for influenza, colds, bronchitis and coughs, migraines, seasickness, nausea, nervous and muscle tension.

For diseases of the joints and spine sore spot apply an oil compress for 30-40 minutes, rub in a mixture of essential oil with internal pork or badger lard in a ratio of 1:3.

Contraindications to the use of wormwood are:

• stomach ulcer, hyperacid gastritis,
• individual intolerance,
• pregnancy and breastfeeding
• heavy bleeding
• renal failure,
• severe liver disease (the plant is poisonous).

In modern folk medicine, wormwood is widely used as an anthelmintic and a means of cleansing the body of protozoa and Candida fungi.

Be careful!

Pharmacist-herbalist Vera Vladimirovna Sorokina

Wormwood or, as the smart ones say, Artemísia absínthium) is a common perennial herbaceous plant with a silvery color, which has a strong aromatic odor and a terrible wormwood bitterness.

Type species of the genus Wormwood the Astrov family. Interestingly, it is considered even the most bitter of the plants of the Russian flora.

What are the benefits of the wormwood plant? Wormwood is one of the most ancient medicinal plants.

Is sagebrush the main component of absinthe. Absinthe is harmful and is even prohibited in many places. Well, that's right.

Height - 50-125 cm, can grow not only as grass, but also as a subshrub. There are many different wormwoods. Chernobyl is often found, but the bitter one has a specific color.

Its stems are straight, slightly ribbed, and branched in the upper part.

The lower leaves are long-petiolate, and, attention! twice or thrice pinnately dissected, the leaves are medium-short petiolate, in short, there are still a lot of incomprehensible botanical terms.))))))))

The flowers of the plant are all tubular and yellow. The marginal ones are pistillate, the middle ones are bisexual, and the baskets are spherical, 2.5-3.5 mm in diameter, with a narrow paniculate inflorescence.
Oh, this is tough!

The wrapper of the baskets is imbricated, the leaves are broadly filmy. The receptacle is convex and hairy. Well, I didn’t understand anything here either.)))))

More understandable information about wormwood

Wormwood blooms in June-July.
The fruit of wormwood is a brownish, pointed achene, approximately 1 mm long; oblong-wedge-shaped, at the apex with a rounded, finely grooved, slightly convex platform.

Reproduces sagebrush seeds. Its fruits ripen in August-September.

Growing sagebrush on fallow lands or along roads, vegetable gardens, near houses, maybe in weedy meadows or along forest edges.

How to cook grass

For medicinal purposes, we need the herb of the plant itself.

Gather sagebrush During the flowering period, we will cut off the upper parts of the plant, dry it in the shade, reaching a humidity of no more than 25%. Store in a dry and ventilated place.
The shelf life of the resulting raw materials is no more than 2 years.

Chemical composition:

Essential oils (phelandrene, cadinene, thujone, azulene), arsumin, bitter substance absintin, anabsintin, tannins, artabsin, carotene, flavonoids, vitamins C, B2, B6, succinic, malic acid, phytoncides, terpenoids, isovaleric and acetic acid, chapelin.

Application

Plant preparations sagebrush bitter stimulate appetite, regulate the gastrointestinal tract. It is also used as a diuretic, choleretic, sedative, analgesic, anthelmintic, disinfectant and anti-inflammatory agent.

The drugs increase the secretion of gastric juice, relieve attacks of flatulence, can soothe pain during an attack of appendicitis and eliminate heartburn.
Decoctions and infusions should be taken for liver diseases, jaundice, spleen disease, kidney damage and Bladder, fever and malaria. with dropsy.
The anthelmintic property of wormwood is enhanced by external lotions mixed with garlic.

Lotions made from infusion wormwood, used for eye diseases. And the calming effect of the herbal decoction is used to reduce shortness of breath, to relieve spasms and stomach colic.
Wormwood seed oil will have a calming effect on insomnia and nervous tension.

Freshly squeezed juice works as a hemostatic agent and helps disinfect wounds and speed up their healing.
Used in mixture with other herbs sagebrush for making wormwood and delicious tea. But only if you put micrograms in there, otherwise it will be nasty!

Decoction: 2 bags of herb are enough for 250 boiling water, boil for 5 minutes and leave for 30 minutes.
Infusion: 3 bags per 200 boiling water, leave for 4 hours.

Preparations from wormwood contraindicated women during pregnancy, lactation, internal bleeding, enterocolitis, stomach ulcers, gastritis with low acidity, anemia, in case of individual intolerance.

Long-term use of drugs leads to nervous system disorders (convulsions, hallucinations and seizures), so the course of treatment must be coordinated with a doctor. In any case, this course of treatment should not last longer than 2 weeks, after which it is necessary to take a break for the same period.

But I think it’s generally harmful to drink grass for two weeks.

The benefits of wormwood outweigh its harm. But that’s if you don’t get carried away.

It is also very undesirable to take large doses once wormwood.
Although some people still try to use it because of the thujone content in the essential oil, but, to be honest, it’s not for me.
First of all, I still haven’t figured it out positive effect, Secondly. a rare commodity, thirdly, hard grass, like all thuja-containing ones (thuja, juniper, tansy, cypress).

I don’t know about anyone, but I didn’t like any of these plants.

But as a gastric sagebrush works great. Recently a person told me that he had some kind of intestinal infection after taking wormwood passed quickly.

It will be useful for the stomach (in small doses and not often). Although, as far as I understand, it can increase gastric juice, it probably needs to be used with caution if you have gastritis with high acidity.
And also sagebrush drives away all evil spirits and insects. I heard that you need to lay them out at home or hang them up.

And in one house to scare bad neighbors, specially hung a broom wormwood on front door outside. Then she went and said that it was from evil spirits and from gossip and slander.

Conclusions:

1. Wormwood is great for getting rid of intestinal infections.
2. Thujon – harmful substance and it’s better to stick with less dangerous and more pleasant terpenes.
3. It is dangerous to use for people who have gastritis with high acidity.
4. Great at killing worms.
5. It is useful to have at home against various nasty things.

IN modern gardens plants with silvery shades of foliage are increasingly gaining popularity, and therefore previously unnoticed perennials such as wormwood are entering the arena. Until now, only folk healers were involved in the intentional cultivation of wormwood, and summer residents, without hesitation, uprooted it like a weed. The reason for the close attention to the simple perennial was the previously bred ornamental varieties, which gave garden designers new opportunities. So I propose to re-acquaint yourself with wormwood more closely, but within the framework of the garden landscape.

In botany, wormwood is called Artemisia, which translated from Latin is very similar to the word “healthy”. After all healing properties wormwood has found recognition not only among traditional healers, but also in official medicine. Moreover, this Latin name is also associated with the name ancient greek goddess Artemis, who was always slim, young and full of strength. Also, wormwood is very hardy and grows in beautiful straight bushes.

It may come as a surprise to many that Artemísia, as a genus of herbaceous or subshrub plants, belongs to the Asteraceae family. For the most part this is perennials with a powerful root system, but there are also annual species. IN natural environment wormwood is very common in the temperate zone of the northern hemisphere, where it has conquered steppes and deserts. Yes, a lot different types This plant grows in Central Asia, Transcaucasia, and Ukraine. Wormwood also lives in rocky steppes North America, South and North Africa. Therefore, this plant can be considered drought- and frost-resistant, which allows it to be grown on windswept, poor soils with scorching sun. In a word, wormwood is steppe plant, and it needs appropriate growing conditions.

Straight, strong stems of wormwood grow from 20 to 150 cm in height, they are covered with light silvery hairs, like frost. The upper leaves are small, and the lower down the stem, the larger and more carved the leaves. The color of the leaves varies from rich green to gray-silver. The extremely small flowers grow in a basket shape from 1 to 10 mm in diameter. Yellow or slightly reddish inflorescences take the form of a brush, spikelet or panicle. Due to the fact that the emphasis in the plant is not on the flowers, but on the leaves, some gardeners prefer to trim the inflorescences.

Types and varieties of wormwood

Of the 400 different types of wormwood, no more than ten are used in gardening today. We will highlight the most popular of them.

- a species that grows on rocks, dunes and in river mouths, is a spreading bush. Grows 30–40 cm tall. Loves sandy soils. The silvery, almost white leaves are shaped like wide plates, and total mass reminiscent of vintage lace.

It is usually planted on retaining walls and rocky hills, in a gravel garden. You can plant a carnation to accompany her, creeping gypsophila, clary sage, sedum.

One of the most popular varieties this type is Moris Form, the foliage of which has a metallic tint.

Artemisia Steller Moris Form

Steller's wormwood

Wormwood Schmidt- these are small snow-silver bushes native to Far East. They are ideal for borders, edgings, cushion mats for rocky slides. The foliage suffers greatly from snowy winters, but grows back quickly thanks to the deep rhizome of the plant.

The following varieties are popular:

●Nana– bushes 20–25 cm, leaves narrow and dense.
● Powуs Castle– reaches 30–40 cm in height, the leaves are openwork, densely arranged.

wormwood Schmidt Nana

Louisiana sagebrush- representative American species wormwood, which are tall plants, reaches an average height of 1 m. Flowers and fruits are unsightly, but everything else forms beautiful thickets that can serve as an excellent backdrop for flower arrangement. This type of wormwood can freeze in winter, so it requires shelter.

Known varieties of this species:

●Silver Queen– branched plants 70 cm high. Light gray leaves create loose thickets.
● Valeri Finnig- a variety of wormwood, the leaves of which are gray-green on one side and almost white on the other due to their dense pubescence. They are very unique in shape - with dissected tops and sharp teeth.

Wormwood- a species that lives up to its name. It has a very pronounced bitter aroma, especially when dry and hot weather. Grows as a subshrub 50–150 cm tall. The leaves are large, pinnately dissected, and have a greenish tint. From decorative varieties allocate Lambrook Silver, which grows up to 75 cm tall and has deeply dissected leaves.

Agricultural technology

Place and soil. Wormwood should be planted in sunny areas, given that this plant grows well on poor, dry soils typical of wastelands. Sandy, drained soil will be favorable for it.

Watering. Wormwood is drought-resistant, but excess moisture, especially in cool weather, can be detrimental to the plant.

Trimming. In order for the bushes to be compact and hold the required form, they should be pruned and rejuvenated annually, especially since they tolerate this very well. U low-growing varieties In order to emphasize the decorativeness of their leaves, it is recommended to trim the flower stalks.

Reproduction. Wormwood takes root well if it is propagated by dividing the bush and cutting roots. If propagation by seeds is intended, then they need to be sown in a greenhouse in April. You can take cuttings from May to July. To do this, shoots are cut to 7–10 cm and strengthened in sandy soils. No cuttings required special care, they need to be watered in the same way as adult plants. By next year they can already be transplanted to a permanent place.

How to “silver” a garden?

The main rule when planting wormwood in the garden is to place plants in groups; this way they look more impressive than in single plantings.

Low-growing varieties can be planted in the foreground as a border, or to fill the free spaces between plants, planted on alpine slide. The areas where bright flowers stand out against the background of wormwood look especially noble and elegant.

Good partners for these plants will be all sorts of varieties– wormwood gives them a new sound. You can also create fragrant garden, if you plant plants such as angustifolia lavender and thyme next to wormwood.

You can create a fragrant garden if you plant plants such as angustifolia lavender, sage, and thyme next to wormwood.

Wormwood contains a huge range of specific substances, namely: absitin, tannins, malic, succinic and ascorbic acids, phytoncides, essential oil. Therefore, wormwood has a well-recognized characteristic bitter aroma. It can be used as a repellent harmful insects, as well as to eliminate the smell of cesspools and latrines. For this reason, close proximity of wormwood to vegetable crops is undesirable.

The close proximity of wormwood to vegetable crops is undesirable.