Artemisia Powis Castle

Description

Artemisia ‘Powis Castle’ – wormwood

Botanical name: Artemisia ‘Powis Castle’
Common names: Artemisia, wormwood
Family: Asteraceae (daisy family)
Plant type: Semi-evergreen aromatic perennial (or sub-shrub)
Habit: Mound-forming, bushy
Pot size: 2–3 litre pot
Eventual size: Approx. 60–90cm tall × 90cm spread
Foliage: Finely divided, feathery, aromatic silver-grey foliage forming a dense mound; semi-evergreen
Flowers: Insignificant small yellowish flowers; grown entirely for its silver foliage
Scent: Aromatic foliage
Aspect / light: Full sun
Soil: Sharply drained; poor, dry; dislikes wet; any pH
Hardiness: RHS H4 (hardy, to about −10°C); best with sharp drainage and shelter; USDA zones 6–9
Exposure: Open, hot, dry, sunny
Native range: Garden form; the genus is native to the northern hemisphere
Toxicity / pet & child safety: Generally considered non-toxic; grown as an aromatic silver foliage plant

Artemisia ‘Powis Castle’ is a superb silver foliage plant forming a dense, feathery mound of aromatic silver-grey leaves. One of the best of all silver plants for hot, dry, sunny borders and gravel.

GardenAdvice notes

Grown entirely for its beautiful, filigree silver foliage, this artemisia forms an aromatic bushy mound of feathery silver-grey leaves that make a superb foil for brighter flowers and darker foliage. A classic sun-lover, it thrives on hot, dry, sharply drained soils and brings a cool, silvery, Mediterranean shimmer to a sunny border.

Growing & planting

Plant in spring in sharply drained, poor, dry soil in full sun — it thrives on hot, dry sites and dislikes rich, wet, heavy ground, which causes it to flop and rot. Improve heavy soil with plenty of grit. Ideal for gravel, Mediterranean-style and silver plantings. Space appropriately for its size.

Care & maintenance

Low-maintenance. Trim it back in spring to keep it neat, bushy and well-clothed, cutting into the previous year’s growth but avoiding the very oldest, bare wood. Removing the insignificant flowers keeps the focus on the foliage. Water only while establishing; keep it dry, especially over winter.

Propagation

• Cuttings: Take softwood or semi-ripe cuttings in summer.

Pests & diseases

Generally trouble-free in a hot, dry, well-drained spot. Its main enemy is wet, heavy soil, which causes rot and floppy growth. Otherwise little troubled by pests.

Uses in the garden

Superb in gravel, Mediterranean-style and silver or white borders, hot dry sites and sunny banks, where its filigree silver foliage sets off brighter flowers and darker leaves beautifully.

Wildlife value

The silver foliage is generally left alone by browsing animals, and the plant provides shelter for insects among its dense growth.

Toxicity & safety

Artemisia is generally regarded as non-toxic and is grown as an aromatic silver foliage plant.

GardenAdvice tip

‘Powis Castle’ is widely regarded as one of the very best silver foliage plants — a beautiful, feathery, aromatic silver mound that’s a magnificent foil for hot colours, dark leaves and pastels alike. It rarely flowers, which keeps the focus on the foliage. Give it full sun and really sharp drainage (wet is far more dangerous than cold), and trim it in spring to keep it dense, never cutting into the very oldest bare wood.

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