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Summary
Artemisia umbelliformis, Alpine Wormwood, is an aromatic, herbaceous perennial plant with a branched, woody rootstock. The plant forms a mat of low, sterile stems and one to several flowering stems around 25cm tall. It is an important alpine plant, widely harvested from the wild and used to make flavored beverages, including the highly prized Alpine liqueur known as 'Genepi', which is of considerable commercial importance. Due to its rarity and high cost, the plant is cultivated in the Alps of Italy, France, and Switzerland for its essential oil and for use as a cosmetic. Alpine Wormwood is a naturally rare Alpine plant that has declined due to indiscriminate picking for use in the production of the liquor 'Genepi'. Its collection is now prohibited in Switzerland and Italy, but continues in France under regulated conditions. It is widely cultivated in these regions for liquor production (except in southern France, where it is still collected), which has relieved collection pressure on wild populations and thereby prevented further declines. Its status in other countries within its range is more uncertain; there is a lack of information on the population and distribution in the Carpathian and Balkan mountains. Given its broad distribution and the protection measures currently in place across parts of its range (precisely in the regions where collection has been most well-documented), the plant is provisionally listed as Least Concern. However, if its population is small and collection pressure is high across its range, and given its increased rarity, it may warrant listing in a higher category of threat. The plant is classified as 'Least Concern' in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species(2013). The native range of this species is Spain to Alps.
Physical Characteristics

Artemisia umbelliformis is a PERENNIAL growing to 0.2 m (0ft 8in) at a slow rate.
See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 4. The species is hermaphrodite (has both male and female organs) and is pollinated by Insects.
Suitable for: light (sandy) and medium (loamy) soils, prefers well-drained soil and can grow in nutritionally poor soil. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils. It cannot grow in the shade. It prefers dry or moist soil and can tolerate drought.
UK Hardiness Map
US Hardiness Map
Synonyms
Plant Habitats
Cultivated Beds;
Edible Uses
Edible Parts:
Edible Uses: Condiment Tea
The herb is used in the preparation of a tea and a liqueur, often with the addition of absinthe[183]. The leaves are used as a condiment[177].
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.
None known
References More on Medicinal Uses
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Other Uses
References More on Other Uses
Cultivation details
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]. An aromatic plant[200]. Members of this genus are rarely if ever troubled by browsing deer[233].
References Carbon Farming Information and Carbon Sequestration Information
Temperature Converter
Type a value in the Celsius field to convert the value to Fahrenheit:
Fahrenheit:
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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 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
Native Range
EUROPE: Austria, Switzerland, Germany (south), Poland, Slovakia, Albania, Bulgaria, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Greece, Italy (north), North Macedonia, Montenegro, Romania, Serbia, Spain (north), France (south)
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.
Conservation Status
IUCN Red List of Threatened Plants Status : Stable. Least Concern.
| Related Plants
|
| Latin Name | Common Name | Habit | Height | Hardiness | Growth | Soil | Shade | Moisture | Edible | Medicinal | Other |
| Artemisia abrotanum | Southernwood | Shrub | 1.2 |
4-8
| M | LMH | SN | DM | 1 | 3 | 3 |
| Artemisia absinthium | Wormwood, Absinthium. | Perennial | 1.0 |
4-9
| M | LM | SN | DM | 1 | 3 | 3 |
| Artemisia annua | Qing Hao, Sweet sagewort | Annual | 3.0 |
6-9
| F | LM | SN | DM | 1 | 4 | 2 |
| Artemisia anomala | Anomalous Wormwood | Perennial | 1.0 |
8-10
| M | LMH | SN | M | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| Artemisia arborescens | Tree Wormwood | Shrub | 1.0 |
8-10
| F | LM | N | DM | 0 | 2 | 3 |
| Artemisia argyi | Chinese Mugwort | Perennial | 1.5 |
4-9
| F | LM | SN | DM | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| Artemisia biennis | Biennial Wormwood | Annual/Biennial | 1.0 |
3-8
| F | LM | SN | DM | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Artemisia californica | California Sagebrush | Shrub | 2.0 |
7-10
| F | LM | N | DM | 0 | 2 | 3 |
| Artemisia campestris | Field Southernwood | Perennial | 1.5 |
3-8
| M | LM | SN | DM | 1 | 2 | 1 |
| Artemisia campestris glutinosa | Sticky Field Wormwood | Perennial | 1.5 |
5-9
| M | LM | SN | DM | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Artemisia capillaris | Yin Chen Hao | Shrub | 0.5 |
6-9
| M | LM | SN | DM | 1 | 3 | 0 |
| Artemisia carruthii | Carruth Wormwood | Perennial | 0.4 |
4-9
| M | LM | N | DM | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Artemisia caruifolia | Carrot-leaved Wormwood | Annual | 1.0 |
0-0
| | LM | SN | DM | 1 | 3 | 1 |
| Artemisia cina | Cina, Santonica | Shrub | 1.0 |
6-9
| M | LM | S | DM | 0 | 3 | 0 |
| Artemisia dracunculoides | Russian Tarragon, Tarragon, French Tarragon | Perennial | 1.0 |
5-8
| M | LM | SN | DM | 2 | 1 | 3 |
| Artemisia dracunculus | Tarragon, French Tarragon | Perennial | 0.6 |
5-9
| M | LM | SN | DM | 4 | 2 | 3 |
| Artemisia filifolia | Sand Sage, Sand sagebrush | Shrub | 1.2 |
3-7
| M | LM | SN | DM | 0 | 2 | 3 |
| Artemisia frigida | Fringed Wormwood, Prairie sagewort | Perennial | 0.3 |
3-8
| M | LM | N | DM | 2 | 2 | 3 |
| Artemisia glacialis | Glacier Wormwood | Perennial | 0.2 |
4-8
| S | LMH | N | DM | 1 | 2 | 0 |
| Artemisia gmelinii | Russian Wormwood, Gmelin's wormwood | Perennial | 1.5 |
3-7
| M | LMH | N | DM | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| Artemisia herba-alba | White Wormwood | Shrub | 0.3 |
7-10
| F | LM | N | DM | 0 | 3 | 3 |
| Artemisia indica | Indian Wormwood; Indian Mugwort | Annual/Perennial | 1.2 |
6-9
| F | LM | SN | DM | 3 | 3 | 2 |
| Artemisia japonica | Japanese Wormwood | Perennial | 1.0 |
7-10
| F | LMH | SN | DM | 1 | 2 | 1 |
| Artemisia keiskeana | Keiske’s Wormwood | Perennial | 0.6 |
5-8
| F | LMH | SN | DM | 2 | 1 | 2 |
| Artemisia laciniata | Siberian wormwood | Perennial | 1.0 |
3-7
| S | LMH | SN | DM | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Artemisia lactiflora | White Mugwort | Perennial | 1.5 |
4-8
| S | LMH | SN | M | 0 | 2 | |
| Artemisia lancea | Lance-leaved Wormwood | Perennial | 1.2 |
4-9
| F | LMH | SN | DM | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Artemisia ludoviciana | White Sage, Louisiana Sage, Prairie Sage, Western Mugwort | Perennial | 1.0 |
3-9
| M | LM | SN | DM | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| Artemisia ludoviciana gnaphalodes | White Sage | Perennial | 1.0 |
4-8
| M | LM | SN | DM | 0 | 2 | 1 |
| Artemisia maritima | Sea Wormwood | Shrub | 0.6 |
6-9
| M | LM | N | DM | 1 | 2 | 1 |
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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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Botanical References
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