Description
Artemisia lactiflora ‘Guizho’
WHITE MUGWORT
Artemisia lactiflora ‘Guizho’ has showy sprays of creamy-white flowers which tower up over the summer months.
So the flowers of ‘Guizho’ make a lovely contrast to it’s ferny foliage and dark stems. Which are flushed with purple-black.
(Scroll down to “Growing” section below for plant and cultivation details).
Long blooming & lovely cut flower
Artemisia lactiflora ‘Guizho’ blooms in late summer through to autumn, with a long and constant blooming season.
And the multiple stems of fine flowers create a such misty effect. So it is lovely used as a garden background plant.
As well as providing lovely and long lasting cut flower for vases.
Hardy neat clump
This bushy, upright clump of pretty foliage has a pleasant musk scent.
And it looks lovely planted as a background for blue or variegated leaved plants.
As well as a setting for late and colourful bloomers like purple Asters or yellow Rudbeckia.
Growing: Artemisia lactiflora ‘Guizho’
WHITE MUGWORT
– Height with flowers: 90cm. tall, straight flowering stems. Which tower above a neat, low mound of ferny foliage.
– Width: Forms a neat clump of aromatic foliage to a diameter of 75cm. wide approx.
– Position: Enjoys various positions in Full Sun to 1/2 Shade. Though some Shade is beneficial in very hot districts.
Hardy & easy to grow
– Soil: Artemisia lactiflora is not particularly fussy, but it does not enjoy being waterlogged.
So it tolerates a range of soils from sandy to clay. And tolerates both acid and alkaline lime soils.
– Fragrance: The leaves are pleasantly aromatic, though the flowers have little scent.
– Frost: Very frost hardy and so can withstand hard frost in excess of -10C.
– Growth: Evergreen, neat perennial clump. Though it becomes very tall over late spring, summer and autumn when the flower stems tower up.
– Water: Artemisa lactiflora is not a particularly thirsty plant.
Therefore average garden watering is sufficient. However it will suffer in very long dry periods.
Other benefits
– Beneficial to wildlife: Small native bees and butterflies find the cloud of tiny flowers irresistible for gathering nectar and pollen.
– Care: Artemisia lactiflora is a very easy and low maintenance plant.
So an annual shear back after flowering is all the work required, apart from normal fertilizing in spring.
– Beware: People who suffer from dermatitis etc. should wear gloves when handling, as a percentage of people may have some allergic skin reaction.
– Deer & Rabbit resistant: Huge cheers. The essential oils in all parts of the plant make it bitter and unpalatable to rabbits and deer.
– Origin: Native to woodlands, shrubby thickets, stream banks in northern India, China, and Southeast Asia.
– Myths & Legends: The Artemisia family is named for Artemis, the ancient Greek goddess of the moon, wild animals and hunting.
– Traditional Herbal uses: The plant is used in traditional Chinese medicine in the treatment of liver and menstrual disorders.
