Artemisia tilesii aka Aleutian Mugwort

Artemisia tilesii belongs to the daisy family, Asteraceae. It is a perennial, so it lives for years. People call it Tilesius’ wormwood or caribou sage. Its native range spans the northeast of Europe. It also spans northern Asia and Japan. It grows across subarctic North America into the United States, too. Kew places it in subalpine and subarctic climates. It is not native to Britain or Ireland.

The plant has a rhizomatous rootstock, which forms upright stems. PFAF lists one to three stems per plant. Accounts differ on height, so take care with size estimates. One gives 0.7–2 feet [0.2–0.6 metres]. It notes that some reach 2.6 feet [0.8 metres]. Another gives 5 feet [1.5 metres] as the height. PFAF says it grows at a moderate rate. The supplied species accounts give no clear bloom season. They give no details on flower colour or fruit.

Wild plants grow on open ground with rocks or gravel. These sites may be wet or dry. They are often high in the mountains. Some groups grow down to sea level. PFAF lists sand and loam soils that drain well. Its species profile allows soil that is mildly acid or alkaline. Neutral soil suits it, too. Plants can grow in sun or light shade. They accept dry or moist soil and can withstand drought. PFAF lists USDA zones 2–8. Yet it questions whether plants are hardy in Britain. Its longer growing notes draw on the genus as a whole.

PFAF lists garden beds as a place to grow this species. It gives late winter to early summer for seed sowing. Sow seeds on the compost surface in a greenhouse. Keep the compost moist as the young plants grow. Keep them under glass through their first winter. Plant them out after that. You can also divide plants in spring or autumn. PFAF lists basal cuttings in late spring as well. The supplied evidence names no pests or diseases specific to this species.

People use the leaves to flavour rice dumplings. They also peel shoots and eat them raw, often with oil. PFAF notes folk use for wounds, stomach pain, and swollen joints. These reports do not prove that such treatments work or are safe. Other uses include incense and removing smells in the home. People have used crushed fresh leaves to remove smells from hands. PFAF reports no known cases of poisoning from this species. That lack of reports does not prove the plant is safe.