Follow Us:

 

Artemisia michauxiana - Besser.

Common Name Mountain Sagewort, Michaux's wormwood
Family Asteraceae or Compositae
USDA hardiness 3-9
Known Hazards Although no reports of toxicity have been seen for this species, skin contact with some members of this genus can cause dermatitis or other allergic reactions in some people[222].
Habitats Rocky places in mountains, usually at rather high elevations[60].
Range Western N. America - British Columbia to California.
Edibility Rating    (2 of 5)
Other Uses    (1 of 5)
Weed Potential Yes
Medicinal Rating    (1 of 5)
Care (info)
Fully Hardy Well drained soil Moist Soil Semi-shade Full sun
Artemisia michauxiana Mountain Sagewort, Michaux


http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/User:Stan_Shebs
Artemisia michauxiana Mountain Sagewort, Michaux
http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/User:Stan_Shebs

 

Translate this page:

Summary

Seeds of several Artemisia species (notably A. dracunculus, A. carruthii, A. biennis, and sometimes A. tridentata) were important food resources for Native Americans. They are tiny but abundant, gathered in autumn, and usually ground into flour or porridge. Leaves of a few species (A. dracunculus, A. frigida, A. ludoviciana) are suitable as culinary herbs. Most other parts are inedible or toxic due to bitter sesquiterpene lactones and thujone. Overall, food uses are secondary to medicinal and ceremonial roles. The Artemisia genus is a diverse and ecologically dominant group across the American West, ranging from weeds like biennial wormwood to keystone shrubs like big sagebrush. While some species contributed seeds or flavorings to traditional diets, they are generally risky or unpleasant as foods. Their greater value lies in medicine, ritual, ecological stability, and seasoning. Only wild tarragon (A. dracunculus) stands out as a truly high-quality edible. Michaux’s sagewort was historically used for seeds, with its lemon-scented leaves possibly usable as a culinary accent. Safety and value as a food are uncertain, making it a minor foraging plant. A rare mountain Artemisia, Michaux’s sagewort, is known primarily from ethnobotanical records of seed use. It adds a lemon scent to the genus but is not well documented as food or medicine. Its ecological and cultural role outweighs its modern edibility.


Physical Characteristics

 icon of manicon of flower
Artemisia michauxiana is a PERENNIAL growing to 0.5 m (1ft 8in).
See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 3. The species is hermaphrodite (has both male and female organs) and is pollinated by Wind.
Suitable for: light (sandy) and medium (loamy) soils and prefers well-drained soil. Suitable pH: neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils. It can grow in semi-shade (light woodland) or no shade. It prefers dry or moist soil and can tolerate drought.

UK Hardiness Map US Hardiness Map

Synonyms

A. discolor. Dougl. ex D.C. A. vulgaris discolor.

Plant Habitats

 Cultivated Beds;

Edible Uses

Edible Parts: Seed
Edible Uses:

Seeds eaten by US Goshiute (“kutsipawatsip”), probably in porridges. Few modern references exist. Lemon-scented leaves may be usable as a seasoning, but this has not been verified.[2-3]. Seed[105, 161, 177]. No further details are given, but the seed is very small and fiddly to use.

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.
Poultice

A hot infusion of the plant has been used in the treatment of headaches[257]. A poultice of the chewed plant is applied to sprains and swellings[257].

References   More on Medicinal Uses

The Bookshop: Edible Plant Books

Our Latest books on Perennial Plants For Food Forests and Permaculture Gardens in paperback or digital formats.

Food Forest Plants for Hotter Conditions: 250+ Plants For Tropical Food Forests & Permaculture Gardens.
Edible Tropical Plants

Food Forest Plants for Hotter Conditions: 250+ Plants For Tropical Food Forests & Permaculture Gardens.

More
Plants for Your Food Forest: 500 Plants for Temperate Food Forests & Permaculture Gardens.
Edible Temperate Plants

Plants for Your Food Forest: 500 Plants for Temperate Food Forests & Permaculture Gardens.

More
PFAF have eight books available in paperback and digital media.
More Books

PFAF have eight books available in paperback and digital formats. Browse the shop for more information.

Shop Now

Other Uses

Minor medicinal use; aromatic foliage possibly used for incense.

Special Uses

References   More on Other Uses

Cultivation details

Habitat & Distribution: High-elevation species of Utah, Nevada, and the northern Rockies. Found in mountain meadows and alpine slopes. Blooms in summer; seeds mature before frost. Growth & Ecology: Perennial herb with aromatic lemon-scented foliage. Rare and localized. Cultivation: prefers high mountain soils, well-drained, cool climates. Rarely cultivated. Easily grown in a well-drained circumneutral or slightly alkaline loamy soil, preferring a warm sunny dry position. Established plants are drought tolerant[200]. Plants are longer lived, more hardy and more aromatic when they are grown in a poor dry soil[245]. Members of this genus are rarely if ever troubled by browsing deer[233]. USDA zones 3–9. Very hardy.

References   Carbon Farming Information and Carbon Sequestration Information

Temperature Converter

Type a value in the Celsius field to convert the value to Fahrenheit:

Fahrenheit:

image

The PFAF Bookshop

Plants For A Future have a number of books available in paperback and digital form. Book titles include Edible Plants, Edible Perennials, Edible Trees,Edible Shrubs, Woodland Gardening, and Temperate Food Forest Plants. Our new book is Food Forest Plants For Hotter Conditions (Tropical and Sub-Tropical).

Shop Now

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 on 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 about10 - 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

Artemisia michauxiana Besser – Michaux’s, Lemon, or Mountain Sagewort

Native Range

NORTHERN AMERICA: Canada (Yukon, Alberta, British Columbia), United States (Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Oregon, Washington, Wyoming, California, Nevada, Utah)

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.

Low — localized and restricted to higher elevations.

Conservation Status

IUCN Red List of Threatened Plants Status :

Related Plants
Latin NameCommon NameHabitHeightHardinessGrowthSoilShadeMoistureEdibleMedicinalOther
Artemisia abrotanumSouthernwoodShrub1.2 4-8  LMHSNDM133
Artemisia absinthiumWormwood, Absinthium.Perennial1.0 4-9 MLMSNDM133
Artemisia annuaQing Hao, Sweet sagewortAnnual3.0 6-9 FLMSNDM142
Artemisia anomala Perennial1.0 -  LMHSNM02 
Artemisia arborescensTree WormwoodShrub1.0 8-10 FLMNDM023
Artemisia argyi Perennial1.5 -  LMSNDM02 
Artemisia biennisBiennial WormwoodAnnual/Biennial1.0 3-8  LMSNDM111
Artemisia californicaCalifornia SagebrushShrub2.0 7-10 FLMNDM023
Artemisia campestrisField SouthernwoodPerennial1.5 3-8  LMSNDM121
Artemisia campestris glutinosa Perennial1.5 -  LMSNDM001
Artemisia capillarisYin Chen HaoShrub0.5 6-9  LMSNDM13 
Artemisia carruthiiCarruth WormwoodPerennial0.4 4-9 MLMNDM100
Artemisia caruifolia Annual1.0 -  LMSNDM131
Artemisia cinaCina, SantonicaShrub1.0 0-0  LMSDM03 
Artemisia dracunculoidesRussian Tarragon, Tarragon, French TarragonPerennial1.0 5-8 MLMSNDM213
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
Artemisia laciniataSiberian wormwoodPerennial0.0 0-0  LMHSNDM10 
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
Artemisia ludoviciana gnaphalodesWhite SagePerennial1.0 4-8  LMSNDM021
Artemisia maritimaSea WormwoodShrub0.6 6-9  LMNDM121
12

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.

 

Now available: Food Forest Plants for Mediterranean Conditions 350+ Perennial Plants For Mediterranean and Drier Food Forests and Permaculture Gardens. [Paperback and eBook]

This is the third in Plants For A Future's series of plant guides for food forests tailored to specific climate zones. Following volumes on temperate and tropical ecosystems, this book focuses on species suited to Mediterranean conditions—regions with hot, dry summers and cool, wet winters, often facing the added challenge of climate change.

Read More

Mediterranean Food Forest Book

Expert comment

Author

Besser.

Botanical References

60200

Links / References

For a list of references used on this page please go here

Readers comment

Add a comment

If you have important information about this plant that may help other users please add a comment or link below. Only comments or links that are felt to be directly relevant to a plant will be included. If you think a comment/link or information contained on this page is inaccurate or misleading we would welcome your feedback at [email protected]. If you have questions about a plant please use the Forum on this website as we do not have the resources to answer questions ourselves.

* Please note: the comments by website users are not necessarily those held by PFAF and may give misleading or inaccurate information.

To leave a comment please Register or login here All comments need to be approved so will not appear immediately.

Subject : Artemisia michauxiana  
© 2010, Plants For A Future. Plants For A Future is a charitable company limited by guarantee, registered in England and Wales. Charity No. 1057719, Company No. 3204567.