African wormwood

Artemisia afra

Wild Wormwood (Eng.), Wilde-als (Afr.)

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African wormwood is an easy to grow perennial plant with attractive silver-grey foliage. The plant is used extensively as a medicinal plant in Southern Africa. The plants release a strong, sticky sweet smell when touched or cut. It is popular as dewormer that leads to the common name and is widely used medicinal - even to cure Malaria.

Planning

Difficulty

Easy

Flowering time

Summer, Autumn

Harvesting

Leaves can be harvested twice in one season, in midsummer and late summer or early autumn or pick as needed. When harvesting for essential oil - cut off the upper green foliage or the flower tops which have a higher oil yield and superior quality. Harvest from beginning to mid-flowering time.

Propagation

Cuttings

Root or stem cuttings root easily in Spring and Summer. Take 10 cm cuttings, trim off excess leaves at the base and plant cuttings half of the length into a prepared tray or seedbed and keep moist.

Seed

Direct sow seeds 5 mm deep in spring or summer.