Practical
Plants

Artemisia glacialis

Glacier Wormwood

a perennial member of the Artemisia genus in the family Compositae.

No photo available

Taxonomy and growth

Life cycle
perennial
Height
0.18 m
Spread
0.3 m
Fertility
Insects
Flower type
hermaphrodite
Pollinators
Insects

Uses

Toxicity

Toxicity warning. The historical record reports a hazard for this plant. Do not use it to decide which parts are safe to eat or use medicinally.

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Although no reports of toxicity have been seen for this species, skin contact with some members of this genus can cause dermatitis or other allergic reactions in some people[4].

Edible uses

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

The herb is used as a flavouring in vermouth and liqueurs[1].

Product or use
Condiment

Medicinal uses

Historical medicinal uses. These records describe reported uses. They do not establish safety or effectiveness. Ask a qualified health professional before using any plant medicinally.

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Glacier wormwood has similar medicinal properties to common wormwood, A, absinthum[8]. It is used locally where it grows wild. The whole plant is digestive, expectorant, sedative and stomachic[8]. An infusion of the herb has a marked effect upon mountain sickness[8]. A poultice of the plant is used as a first-aid remedy in the treatment of wounds[8].

Product or use
Digestive
Product or use
Expectorant
Product or use
Sedative
Product or use
Stomachic

Environment

Range
C. Europe.
Habitat
Exposed rocky slopes in the Alps[2]. Schistose rocks and screes, 2000 - 3100 metres[7].
Light
full sun
Shade tolerance
no shade
Water
moderate
Hardiness
Zone 5+
Soil textures
sandy, loamy, clay
Soil pH
acid, neutral, alkaline
Drainage
well drained
Tolerances
drought
Tolerates Nutritionally Poor Soil
No
Drought
tolerant

Propagation

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Seed - surface sow from late winter to early summer in a greenhouse, making sure that the compost does not dry out[3]. When large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and grow them on in the greenhouse for their first winter. Plant out in late spring or early summer. Division in spring or autumn[3]. Basal cuttings in late spring. Harvest the young shoots when about10 - 15cm long, pot up in a lightly shaded position in a greenhouse or cold frame and plant them out when well rooted. Very easy.

Cultivation

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Requires a very well-drained light or medium soil and a sunny position[2]. Very intolerant of winter wet[2]. Established plants are drought tolerant[2]. Plants are longer lived, more hardy and more aromatic when they are grown in a poor dry soil[6]. Indiscriminate collection of this plant from the wild has made it an endangered species[8]. Members of this genus are rarely if ever troubled by browsing deer[5].

References

  1. Facciola. S. Cornucopia - A Source Book of Edible Plants. Kampong Publications 1990-00-00 ISBN 0-9628087-0-9

    ↩

  2. Chatto. B. The Dry Garden. Dent 1982-00-00 ISBN 0460045512

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4

  3. Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press 1992-00-00 ISBN 0-333-47494-5

    ↩1↩2

  4. Foster. S. & Duke. J. A. A Field Guide to Medicinal Plants. Eastern and Central N. America. Houghton Mifflin Co. 1990-00-00 ISBN 0395467225

    ↩

  5. Thomas. G. S. Perennial Garden Plants J. M. Dent & Sons, London. 1990-00-00 ISBN 0 460 86048 8

    ↩

  6. Genders. R. Scented Flora of the World. Robert Hale. London. 1994-00-00 ISBN 0-7090-5440-8

    ↩

  7. ? Flora Europaea Cambridge University Press 1964-00-00

    ↩

  8. Chiej. R. Encyclopaedia of Medicinal Plants. MacDonald 1984-00-00 ISBN 0-356-10541-5

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5

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