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Artemisia carruthii - Alph.Wood ex Carruth.

Common Name Carruth Wormwood
Family Asteraceae
USDA hardiness 4-9
Known Hazards Many members of this genus contain potentially allergenic sesquiterpene lactones that can cause skin reactions. Although this species has been found to contain them, there have been no reports that it has caused dermatitis[407 ].
Habitats Open sites, usually sandy soils, wooded areas, grasslands, railroads; at elevations of 600 - 2,900 metres[270 ].
Range Southern N. America - Arizona, Texas, Utah, Mexico.
Edibility Rating    (1 of 5)
Other Uses    (0 of 5)
Weed Potential No
Medicinal Rating    (0 of 5)
Care (info)
Fully Hardy Well drained soil Moist Soil Full sun
Artemisia carruthii Carruth Wormwood


Patrick Alexander from Las Cruces, NM wikimedia.org
Artemisia carruthii Carruth Wormwood

 

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Summary

Artemisia carruthii is an herbaceous perennial plant that usually grows 15 - 40cm tall, sometimes to 70cm. The plant usually produces 3 - 8 stems from a rhizomatous rootstock[270 ]. It is harvested from the wild for local use as a food. Carruth’s sagewort produces bland leaves of no culinary value, but its small seeds were historically important to the Zuni, who steamed them into food balls. Seeds mature in autumn and can be used like those of wild tarragon. It grows in USDA Zones 5–9 and is not invasive.


Physical Characteristics

 icon of manicon of flower
Artemisia carruthii is a PERENNIAL growing to 0.4 m (1ft 4in) by 0.3 m (1ft) at a medium rate.
See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 5 and is not frost tender. The flowers are pollinated by Wind.
Suitable for: light (sandy) and medium (loamy) soils, prefers well-drained soil and can grow in nutritionally poor soil. Suitable pH: neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils and can grow in very alkaline soils.
It cannot grow in the shade. It prefers dry or moist soil and can tolerate drought. The plant can tolerates strong winds but not maritime exposure.

UK Hardiness Map US Hardiness Map

Synonyms

A. bakeri Greene. A. carruthii var. wrightii (A.Gray). A. coloradensis Osterh. A. kansana Britton. A. mexicana var. bakeri A.Nelson. A. vulgaris subsp. wrightii (A.Gray) H.M.Hall & Clem. A. vulgaris var. wrightii (A.Gray) E.J.Palmer & Steyerm. A. wrightii A.Gray. A. wrightii var. coloradensis A.Nelson.

Plant Habitats

Edible Uses

Leaves - cooked[61 ]. Seed - raw or cooked. An oily texture[61 , 161 , 177 ]. The seed is very small and fiddly to use[K ]. Carruth’s sagewort (Artemisia carruthii) is a common species native to the southwestern United States. It closely resembles wild tarragon but lacks its strong flavor, as the leaves are bland and not useful as seasoning. The seeds, however, were an important food resource for the Zuni Indians of western New Mexico. The Zuni name for this plant, kia’tsanna (“small seeds”), reflects its role in their diet. According to early ethnographic accounts, the Zuni ground the seeds, mixed them with water, and shaped the mixture into balls or pats, which were then steamed. This preparation was considered one of their most ancient foods, relied upon at times when other resources were scarce. Although the seeds are very small, they are comparable in quality to those of wild tarragon (A. dracunculus), which are excellent for grinding into flour or adding to porridge. Seeds mature in autumn, making this a late-season resource. Other plant parts are not considered edible due to the presence of bitter, potentially toxic compounds common to the genus [2-3].

References   More on Edible Uses

Medicinal Uses

Plants For A Future can not take any responsibility for any adverse effects from the use of plants. Always seek advice from a professional before using a plant medicinally.


Minor medicinal use, but the main ethnobotanical role was as food seeds.

References   More on Medicinal Uses

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Other Uses

None known

Special Uses

References   More on Other Uses

Cultivation details

Native to southwestern U.S., especially New Mexico, Arizona, and Texas. Grows in open plains, juniper–oak–pine woodlands, and disturbed areas. Species in this genus are generally easily grown, succeeding in a well-drained circumneutral or slightly alkaline loamy soil, preferring a sunny position[1, 200 ]. They tend to be longer lived, more hardy and more aromatic when they are grown in poor, dry soil[245 ]. Established plants are drought tolerant. Artemisia carruthii is closely related to members of the Artemisia ludoviciana complex, with which it may intergrade[270 ]. Members of this genus are rarely if ever, troubled by browsing deer[233 ].

References   Carbon Farming Information and Carbon Sequestration Information

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Plant Propagation

Seed - surface sow from late winter to early summer in a greenhouse, making sure that the compost does not dry out[200 ]. When large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and grow them in the greenhouse for their first winter. Plant out in late spring or early summer. Division in spring or autumn[200 ]. Basal cuttings in late spring. Harvest the young shoots when about 10 - 15cm long, pot up in a lightly shaded position in a greenhouse or cold frame and plant them out when well rooted. Very easy.

Other Names

If available other names are mentioned here

Carruth’s sagewort

Native Range

Native to: Arizona, Colorado, Kansas, Mexico Northeast, Mexico Northwest, Michigan, Missouri, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Texas, Utah. Introduced into: New York.

Weed Potential

Right plant wrong place. We are currently updating this section. Please note that a plant may be invasive in one area but may not in your area so it's worth checking.

It is a native species and not considered invasive or weedy outside its natural range.

Conservation Status

IUCN Red List of Threatened Plants Status : Least Concern

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Latin NameCommon NameHabitHeightHardinessGrowthSoilShadeMoistureEdibleMedicinalOther
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Artemisia dracunculusTarragon, French TarragonPerennial0.6 5-9 MLMSNDM423
Artemisia filifoliaSand Sage, Sand sagebrushShrub1.2 3-7  LMSNDM021
Artemisia frigidaFringed Wormwood, Prairie sagewortPerennial0.3 3-8  LMNDM223
Artemisia glacialisGlacier WormwoodPerennial0.2 4-8  LMHNDM12 
Artemisia gmeliniiRussian Wormwood, Gmelin's wormwoodPerennial1.5 3-7  LMHNDM112
Artemisia herba-albaWhite WormwoodShrub0.3 7-10 FLMNDM033
Artemisia indica Annual/Perennial1.2 6-9  LMSNDM132
Artemisia japonica Perennial1.0 7-10  LMHSNDM121
Artemisia keiskeana Perennial0.6 -  LMHSNDM212
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Artemisia lactifloraWhite MugwortPerennial1.5 4-8 SLMHSNM02 
Artemisia lancea Perennial1.2 -  LMHSNDM11 
Artemisia ludovicianaWhite Sage, Louisiana Sage, Prairie Sage, Western MugwortPerennial1.0 3-9 MLMSNDM222
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Artemisia maritimaSea WormwoodShrub0.6 6-9  LMNDM121
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Growth: S = slow M = medium F = fast. Soil: L = light (sandy) M = medium H = heavy (clay). pH: A = acid N = neutral B = basic (alkaline). Shade: F = full shade S = semi-shade N = no shade. Moisture: D = dry M = Moist We = wet Wa = water.

 

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Alph.Wood ex Carruth.

Botanical References

Links / References

For a list of references used on this page please go here
A special thanks to Ken Fern for some of the information used on this page.

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Subject : Artemisia carruthii  
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