Artemisia maritima aka Wormseed

Artemisia maritima, or sea wormwood, belongs to the daisy family, Asteraceae. Its native range covers northern and western Europe. It grows wild in Britain and Ireland. Other names include sea artemisia, garden cypress, and wormseed. This coastal plant lives in drier parts of salt marshes. It also grows among sand and shingle. It is a perennial with a woody base, often described as a subshrub.

The plant forms a bushy clump with short, branching woody growth. Short branches carry mats of leaf rosettes that do not flower. Separate flowering stems rise above these low leaves. PFAF gives their height as 0.7–1.6 feet [0.2–0.5 metres]. RHS gives a garden height and spread of 1.6–3.3 feet [0.5–1 metre]. Plants reach their full size in two to five years. Growth is moderate. The finely divided leaves have a feathery look. Fine hairs give them a soft, silver cast. Their strong scent recalls medicinal herbs. The plant sheds its leaves rather than keeping them through winter.

Small yellow-brown flower heads form clusters along spikes in summer. The silver leaves provide much of its garden interest. RHS suggests it for coastal gardens and informal cottage beds. It also suits planting schemes for a Mediterranean climate. Its scent adds another point of interest near garden beds. These uses draw on its foliage, compact form, and coastal character.

Give sea wormwood full sun and soil that drains well. It accepts chalk, loam, or sand across a broad pH range. It tolerates drought and can grow in exposed or sheltered sites. RHS rates it H6, while PFAF lists USDA zones 6–9. Prune in spring to encourage a bushy shape. Raise new plants from seed or softwood cuttings. RHS reports few pest or disease problems. PFAF does not flag it as a weed risk.

PFAF records occasional use of the leaves to flavour food. It gives the plant a low food-use rating. Traditional medicine has used its leaves and flowering shoots. Recorded uses include digestive remedies, fever treatments, and treatments for worms. These records do not establish safety or effectiveness. Shoots have also served as a strewing herb. Reports describe their use to deter insects and mice.