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Gardening in Oz

artemisia?

19 years ago

Hi AU garden webbers,

Hope everyone is having a nice winter. I've finally identified this thriving silvery bush in my garden with a very strong 'fragrant' smell. Actually not my favourite of smells :) I think it's most likely artemisia absinthium which has grown to over a metre in height and width.

I read a few worrying things about it like being toxic (even banned in the past in spirits??) and potentially weedy. I have my dogs free ranging in the garden and was wondering if it's safe to keep. I have also not seen it sold in garden centres so far. What do people here think of this plant, and how is it usually used? (seems it does get used in perfumes, but I thought it had a foul smell :)).

thanks,

weeddummie

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Comment (1)

corymbosa
19 years ago
I don't think you have too much to worry about. We had wormwood in the garden at our old house and I never noticed my dog take the slightest interest in it. It's sold in nurseries but isn't really that popular (as a herb it's not really that useful and as a plant it's not that spectacular). As a companion plant it is supposedly a pest deterrent, however, it can inhibit the growth of surrounding plants. As for it's toxicity, wormwood is a major ingredient of absinthe, which was prohibited due to its neurotoxic effects. Realistically, as a garden plant you or your dogs would need to ingest a lot of the plant for it to do harm. The smell and the bitter taste should prevent this from happening. Handling is of no issue.
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