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Artemisia umbelliformis - Lam.

Common Name Alpine Wormwood
Family Asteraceae
USDA hardiness 4-8
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 Mountain rocks, moraines and river gravels[50].
Range Europe - Alps, N. Apennines.
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 umbelliformis Alpine Wormwood


http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Artemisia_mutellina_Atlas_Alpenflora.jpg
Artemisia umbelliformis Alpine Wormwood
http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Artemisia_umbelliformis.JPG

 

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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

 icon of manicon of flower
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

None known

Special Uses

Scented Plants

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

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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 NameCommon NameHabitHeightHardinessGrowthSoilShadeMoistureEdibleMedicinalOther
Artemisia abrotanumSouthernwoodShrub1.2 4-8 MLMHSNDM133
Artemisia absinthiumWormwood, Absinthium.Perennial1.0 4-9 MLMSNDM133
Artemisia annuaQing Hao, Sweet sagewortAnnual3.0 6-9 FLMSNDM142
Artemisia anomalaAnomalous WormwoodPerennial1.0 8-10 MLMHSNM020
Artemisia arborescensTree WormwoodShrub1.0 8-10 FLMNDM023
Artemisia argyiChinese MugwortPerennial1.5 4-9 FLMSNDM020
Artemisia biennisBiennial WormwoodAnnual/Biennial1.0 3-8 FLMSNDM111
Artemisia californicaCalifornia SagebrushShrub2.0 7-10 FLMNDM023
Artemisia campestrisField SouthernwoodPerennial1.5 3-8 MLMSNDM121
Artemisia campestris glutinosaSticky Field WormwoodPerennial1.5 5-9 MLMSNDM001
Artemisia capillarisYin Chen HaoShrub0.5 6-9 MLMSNDM130
Artemisia carruthiiCarruth WormwoodPerennial0.4 4-9 MLMNDM100
Artemisia caruifoliaCarrot-leaved WormwoodAnnual1.0 0-0  LMSNDM131
Artemisia cinaCina, SantonicaShrub1.0 6-9 MLMSDM030
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 MLMSNDM023
Artemisia frigidaFringed Wormwood, Prairie sagewortPerennial0.3 3-8 MLMNDM223
Artemisia glacialisGlacier WormwoodPerennial0.2 4-8 SLMHNDM120
Artemisia gmeliniiRussian Wormwood, Gmelin's wormwoodPerennial1.5 3-7 MLMHNDM112
Artemisia herba-albaWhite WormwoodShrub0.3 7-10 FLMNDM033
Artemisia indicaIndian Wormwood; Indian MugwortAnnual/Perennial1.2 6-9 FLMSNDM332
Artemisia japonicaJapanese WormwoodPerennial1.0 7-10 FLMHSNDM121
Artemisia keiskeanaKeiske’s WormwoodPerennial0.6 5-8 FLMHSNDM212
Artemisia laciniataSiberian wormwoodPerennial1.0 3-7 SLMHSNDM100
Artemisia lactifloraWhite MugwortPerennial1.5 4-8 SLMHSNM02 
Artemisia lanceaLance-leaved WormwoodPerennial1.2 4-9 FLMHSNDM110
Artemisia ludovicianaWhite Sage, Louisiana Sage, Prairie Sage, Western MugwortPerennial1.0 3-9 MLMSNDM222
Artemisia ludoviciana gnaphalodesWhite SagePerennial1.0 4-8 MLMSNDM021
Artemisia maritimaSea WormwoodShrub0.6 6-9 MLMNDM121
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.

 

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Expert comment

Author

Lam.

Botanical References

50200

Links / References

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

Readers comment

tom   Mon Apr 25 03:36:15 2005

May i please stucture my comment as a quest? I want to make genepy alcohol infusion for medicinal purposes only of course and i want to cultivate artimisia genipi or a. mutellina or are they the same thing? I beg of you please anyone who can help me. Maybe i will pay you back in spades. Thank you very much. I'm sending you white light already genepy guru...thank you.

tom   Mon Apr 25 04:02:50 2005

please tell me why grow three feet from my veggie garden? Thank you's.

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