Varieties and species of wormwood. Wormwood Steller

For a long time, the properties of plants have been used in the treatment of many diseases. Used tinctures, decoctions, extracts. Virtually everyone had a certain knowledge of the power of flowers and grasses. For example, everyone knew what a plant, like wormwood, has medicinal properties, stimulates the appetite and fights against neurasthenia.

Wormwood plant

In botany, wormwood is called Artemisia (translated from Latin as "healthy"). And indeed, the healing properties of this plant have found their recognition not only among folk healers, but also in official medicine. In addition to medicinal and decorative properties, wormwood has many other advantages. For example, it is a spice and is used in cooking for spicy taste of dishes.

Wormwood is an annual, biennial or perennial herbaceous or semi-shrub plant of the astrope family. Widespread in Central Asia, Ukraine, the Caucasus. Wormwood also grows in the stony steppes of Africa and North America. The plant is drought-and frost-resistant, which allows it to grow on poor soils under strong sun and blown by the wind

Stems wormwood strong, straight, growing depending on the species height of 20-150 cm leaves are delicate, on top small, from below larger, color varies from gray-green to silvery-white. Flowers are small, growing in the form of a basket in diameter 1-10 mm. Inflorescences yellow or slightly reddish, acquire the shape of a spikelet, brush or panicle. Wormwood is decorative throughout the season, unpretentious, drought-resistant.

Varieties

What kinds and types of wormwood exist? To date, there are about 400 different species of this plant, but no more than a dozen are used in horticulture. We note the most famous and popular of them: Wormwood Steller and Schmidt.

Wormwood Stellerana (Steller's)

Occurs on the rocks of the Far East, Norway, Japan, Alaska. In addition, Steller's wormwood grows extensively in North America. It is observed in the mouths of rivers, on dunes, rocks. It is perennial, having outstretched shoots. It grows 30-40 cm in height. The leaves are cut, silvery. Baskets are small, yellowish, appearing in the middle of summer. It is desirable to cut off the peduncles, otherwise they will cover the leaves, which are the main ornament of wormwood.

In order to maintain a compact shape, the plant is recommended to be rejuvenated annually by division or hilling. Despite the fact that Steller's wormwood is winter hardy, it can freeze. Excellent for boarding on stone slides and retaining walls, in a gravel garden. Wormwood Steller perfectly combines with fescue sizoy, cloves, sage Muscat, creeping gypsophila.

The most common varieties of this species are:

• Moris Form ("Maurice Form");
• Silver Brocade ("Silver Brokade")

Wormwood Schmidt

This small plant native to the Far East can be found in Japan, on Sakhalin and in the south of the Kuril Islands. It grows in the mountains on poor soils and on the sea coast. Wormwood Schmidt is ideal for edging, curbs. Blooms in August.

We have popular varieties:

• Nana ("Nana"). Numerous shoots of this plant form rounded very openwork bushes or low small and dense curtains, the height of which is 25 cm. The foliage has a silvery green color, pinnately dissected.
• "Powys Castle" is a hybrid breed. Has densely leafy shoots, the height of which is 35-40 cm. Foliage is silvery, openwork, pinnately-dissected. Blooms in July with unimpressive yellow flowers.

Wormwood: planting and care

The plant likes sunny areas, it grows well on poor dry soils peculiar to wastelands. It is favorable for it sandy drained soil. Wormwood is very resistant to drought. Overabundance of moisture can adversely affect the plant, especially in a cool period of time. To the wormwood bushes were compact and kept in shape, they must be cut off and rejuvenated every year. It is recommended to remove peduncles.

It multiplies by dividing the bush, root segments, seeds. Seeds are sown in a greenhouse in April. Cuttings can be carried out from May to July. For this, the shoots are cut at 8-10 cm and planted in sandy soil. For cuttings do not require special care, water them in the same way as adult plants. The next year they can be transplanted to a permanent place.

Virtually all varieties and species of wormwood respond well to the haircut, they can be formed of different heights of the composition, they are well combined with many plants. It is only necessary to choose the right combination.