Wholesale Wormwood herb

01.
A Bit of Botany

a little botanical information on wormwood

description
Artemisia absinthium is a herbaceous, perennial plant of the Asteraceae family.

Wormwood's straight stems grow to approximately 2-4 feet in height; on rare occasion they can reach 5 feet, and more rarely still higher. They are silvery green, grooved, and branched. The plant has fibrous roots.

The plant's leaves are greenish-grey on top and white underneath. They are covered with silky silvery-white trichomes, and they bear very small oil-producing glands. They are spirally arranged. The plant's basal leaves measure in length up to 25 cm long; they are bipinnate to tripinnate with long petioles, with the leaves on the stem (cauline leaves) being smaller measuring just 5–10 cm long. They are also less divided, and have short petioles (leafstalk). The plant's uppermost leaves can be both simple and sessile (without a petiole).

Wormwood's pale yellow flowers are tubular, and clustered in spherical bent-down heads (capitula). These are in turn clustered in branched and leafy panicles. Wormwood flowers from early summer to early autumn. The plant's fruit is a small achene.

common names & nomenclature
The botanical name honors the Greek Goddess of the hunt, Artemis. The common name "wormwood" comes from Middle English wormwode or wermode.

Also known as:
wormwood, absinthium, green ginger, absinthe, old woman, southernwood, grand wormwood, absinthe wormwood, common wormwood

02.
Where in the World

habitat and range for wormwood

Artemisia absinthium is native to temperate regions of Eurasia and Northern Africa.

03.
Cultivation & Harvesting

considerations for growing and harvesting wormwood

climate
The wormwood plant on uncultivated, arid ground, on rocky slopes, and at the edge of footpaths and fields in sun to part sun.

soil
Succeeds in any soil. The plant is longer lived, more hardy, and even more aromatic when they are grown in a poor dry soil.

growing
Wormwood can be propagated by cuttings taken in spring or autumn in temperate climates, or by seeds in nursery beds. It also self-seeds readily.

harvesting
The plant is harvested as it is coming into flower and then dried for later use.

preserving
Store dried wormwood herb, cut pieces and dried wormwood herb, powder in an airtight container in a cool, dry place.

04.
The Rest of the Story

What is wormwood used for?

Since the plant is considered toxic to it is typically used as a natural pest repellent in the home and garden or as a tea. It is not for culinary use.

How to make wormwood tea.

Add 1/2 to 1 teaspoon of dried wormwood to boiling water. Let it steep for 8 to 10 minutes. The flavor will be more bitter the longer it steeps.. Sweeten to taste with honey and add a bit of lemon if preferred.

How to make wormwood tincture.

• Combine 8 ounces of vodka with 1 cup of wormwood in a sealable jar
• Seal and store in a cool, dry place for 4 to 6 weeks
• Strain and store in a tincture bottle

Health benefits.

Although the herb can be commonly used to flavor beverages and liquors in small amounts, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration classifies this herb as unsafe due to the presence of thujone. Today, wormwood, in small amounts, is largely reserved for use in making herbal bitters, teas or tinctures. Some believe wormwood can help stimulate digestion and relieve spasms in the intestinal tract.