Wormwood

Wormwood (Artemisia absinthium) is a silvery, aromatic perennial best known as the historically controversial flavoring behind absinthe. Intensely bitter, it belongs to the same genus as tarragon and mugwort, and its fine, silvery-gray foliage has made it a popular ornamental in dry, textural garden borders.

Growing Wormwood

Wormwood is drought-tolerant and unfussy, preferring the same lean, well-drained conditions as its Mediterranean relatives, and can grow quite large and shrubby over a season. It's valued in the garden as much for its soft, silvery texture as any practical use, working well as a contrast plant among more colorful perennials.

Traditional Uses

Wormwood's intense bitterness and thujone content are what historically gave absinthe its reputation, though modern production methods keep thujone levels within safe regulatory limits. Outside of that niche, wormwood sees little direct culinary use today, given its overwhelming bitterness compared to milder bittering herbs.