PLANT OF THE MONTH:
Mugwort
Artemisia douglasiana
IN THE GARDEN: This herbaceous perennial grows 1-3 ft tall and is a choice foliage plant. Its aromatic leaves are dark green on top and silvery beneath, which provides nice contrast. In the garden, use Mugwort in a lush, riparian setting. Plant tolerates more shade and heavier soils than other sagebrushes. Historical uses include steeping leaves as a tea to soothe poison oak rashes. Though we haven't tried this yet, this plant is also reported to produce lucid dreams when placed under your pillow. Blooming period: June to October
ECOLOGICAL VALUE: Attracts butterflies and birds. Deer resistant.
NATIVE DISTRIBUTION: Found in virtually every county of California, this plant is native to the western United States and into Baja California where it is often found in moist areas such as drainages. It's often riparian in the drier parts of its range. (calscape.org).
AT THE NURSERY: We currently have 131 in D-16 containers for $4.75 each and 607 in D-40 containers for $6.75 each.
