Artemisia abrotanum
Southernwood
Common names: Lad's love, Cola plant
At a glance
- Light
- Full sun
- Spacing
- 60 cm, rows 70 cm
- Lifespan
- Perennial
- Sowing
- Apr–May
- Harvest
- Jun–Sep
- Hardiness
- Hardy down to −15 °C
- Water need
- Low
Photo: Kurt Stüber [1] · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Source
Description
Artemisia abrotanum, commonly known as bitter sage, is an aromatic semi‑shrub from the Asteraceae family. Depending on the variety, the fine, feathery leaves may smell like lemon or reminiscent of cola, hence the names "lemon plant" and "cola plant." The shrub typically reaches 60 to 120 cm in height, growing upright and becoming increasingly woody at the base over time. In cottage gardens and along orchard edges it has long served as a fragrant companion plant and insect‑repellent neighbor for more delicate vegetable crops. Note that, like other mugwort species, it is considered mildly toxic; the aromatic compounds can be intolerable in large amounts, so it is best used sparingly as a flavoring or scent rather than as a heavily consumed vegetable.
Care instructions
Bitter sage prefers a sunny, warm location with well‑drained, somewhat sandy or loamy soil; it does not thrive in heavy, water‑logged soils. Water only when the soil remains dry for an extended period, as the plant tolerates low moisture well. In spring, around mid‑April to early May (week 16 to 18), prune the semi‑shrub heavily to keep it bushy and prevent it from becoming leggy. Light winter protection such as straw or leaf mulch can shield young plants and container specimens during harsh winters. Because it grows slowly from seed, propagation by cuttings or division in early summer is usually the easier method.
The care notes were machine-translated from German.
Garden year
SowingApr–May
HarvestJun–Sep
Germination
- Soil temperature
- from 12 °C, ideally 20 °C
- Days to sprout
- 14 to 28 days
- Light
- Needs light to sprout
- Sowing depth
- Press in, don't cover
- How to start
- Start indoors, then plant out
Soil & site
Soil pH
Soil type
well-drained, lean, lime-loving, dry
Southernwood likes it lean and free-draining and cannot tolerate waterlogged soil at all. A sunny spot with sandy-loamy, chalky soil comes closest to its Mediterranean origin. Soil that is too rich in nutrients makes the shoots soft and less hardy, so it is better to mix in sparingly.
Feeding
Light feeder
Southernwood needs practically no feeding; too many nutrients harm it more than help. In spring, a thin layer of mature compost around the plant is enough, and no more is necessary. On sites with lean, sandy soil, you can even leave this out altogether.
Overwintering
As a woody sub-shrub, southernwood is hardy, but it dislikes cold wet conditions intensely. A mulch of brushwood or leaves additionally protects the roots in severe frost. In early spring, cut the plant back hard, and it will then shoot again bushily.
Propagation
Methods
- Cuttings
- Division
- From seed
The most reliable way to propagate it is by tip cuttings in early summer, which root quickly in free-draining seed compost. Dividing older clumps in spring also works well and gives you strong young plants straight away. Sowing is possible, but much more protracted and less true to type, as southernwood flowers only rarely and irregularly.
Companion planting
Companion planting is partly traditional gardening lore. Where the reason is known, it is given.
Some of these explanations were machine-translated.
For your garden
Grow Southernwood yourself
Gartenkern tells you when frost is coming, when to sow and when to harvest, for your location.
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