Common wormwood

Short description of the species

Botanical name

Common wormwood

Latin name

Artemisia absinthium

Family

Asteraceae

Origin

temperate regions of Europe, Asia and North Africa

Crop classification

spicy and aromatic plants

Exposure

full sun

Frost resistance

frost resistant / perrenial

Optimal growth temperature

15°C - 25°C

Water requirements

low

Soil requirements

low

Soil pH

6 - 7.5

Edible part

Herba absinthii (wort wormwood), Oleum absinthii (wort oil)

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Interesting

is one of the key ingredients of absinthe, the famous alcoholic drink known for its association with artists and writers in the 19th and early 20th centuries

accessibility

Usage

it has a bitter taste and a spicy smell, the main raw material for the production of brandy called absinthe, bitter liqueurs and wines, also medicinal teas, as a spice for meat and vegetable soups

Inclusion in the sowing process and fertilization requirements 

True wormwood is a perennial in our conditions, its above-ground parts die in autumn, the deep root system below the surface remains alive, which allows it to grow again in spring. Wormwood is grown on one site for 3-4 years. 

Track: II. 

Suitable pre-crops: legumes, cereals 

Fertilization: frequent fertilization is not necessary, a light application of compost in the spring is sufficient 

Varieties: Breeding of wormwood varieties focuses on varieties with higher yields or specific phytochemical content. 

Agricultural cultivation techniques 

Propagation: Wormwood can be propagated from seeds, cuttings or by dividing mother plants. 

Agricultural cultivation technique - seeds are sown directly into the soil in the spring after the last frost

Harvesting - when the plants are 0.3–0.35 m high, the tops of the panicles and the young lower leaves are collected before flowering, or at the beginning of flowering (July-August) 

Use: it has a bitter taste and a spicy smell, the main raw material for the production of brandy called absinthe, bitter liqueurs and wines, also medicinal teas, as a spice for meat and vegetable soups 

Ingredients: essential oils, thujone, cineole, bitters, anabsinthin, artabsin, tannins, vitamins B and C, carotene, flavone compounds, acids 

Phytotherapeutic groups: carminative, stomachic, digestive, diuretic 

Diseases and pests: relatively resistant to many pests and diseases due to its strong aromatic compounds, among common pests it can be attacked by aphids, although the strong aroma of wormwood often deters large populations, mites, butterfly caterpillars, from diseases - powdery mildew, rust and root rot