Native to North Africa and regions of Eurasia, wormwood has a rich history. In ancient Greek mythology, the goddess Artemis gave humans wormwood, a sacred herb with healing properties. Considered antiparasitic, ancient Greeks mixed wormwood with wine and drank it after meals to aid digestion.
Today, wormwood is best known for its use in the alcoholic drink absinthe, made popular by revolutionary thinkers and artists such as Van Gogh. Absinthe became infamous for adverse effects, but these effects came from copper that was used to turn counterfeit absinthe green. In fact, wormwood is the subject of modern studies for its antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties as well as its potential for pain relief.
Growth Form: Low bush that grows 2-4 ft tall and 2 ft wide
Light: Full sun, part sun in USDA zones 9 and 10
Water: Low water once established
Soil: Well-drained loam, standard potting soil
Hardiness: USDA zones 6-10, Sunset zones 2-24
Type: Perennial