Mugwort
Artemisia douglasiana
Also known as California Mugwort, Western Mugwort, Northwest Mugwort
Climate Match for your location
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California mugwort is a fragrant, drought-tolerant native shrub with soft, silvery-green foliage and small yellowish flowers. It thrives in hot, dry conditions and is valued for erosion control, habitat, and traditional medicine uses.
Why grow it
California mugwort outperforms many ornamental shrubs in extremely dry, poor-soil settings where water is limited. Its fine texture and silvery foliage provide visual interest without demanding irrigation once established, making it useful for low-maintenance landscapes in Mediterranean or semi-arid climates. The plant also establishes quickly on disturbed slopes, supporting native insects and birds while stabilizing soil.
Watch out for
California mugwort can spread vigorously by rhizomes and self-seeding in favorable conditions, so plan for containment in smaller gardens. The plant prefers well-draining soil and may develop root rot or fungal issues in areas with high humidity or poor drainage. Established plants are quite hardy, but young transplants benefit from consistent water during their first growing season to establish deep roots.
Overview
- Form
- Growth Rate
- Size
- Dormancy
- Family
- Asteraceae
Native to the United States
Native Range
California and northern Mexico
Native to: California, Nevada, Oregon, Washington
Seasonality
Bloom Season
Harvest Season
Edible Parts
Season of Interest
Shrub
Woody multi-stem plants at eye level.
Succession Role
Tolerances & Soil
Establishment & Care
- Establishment
- Maintenance
- Propagation
California mugwort is a fragrant, drought-tolerant native shrub with soft, silvery-green foliage and small yellowish flowers. It thrives in hot, dry conditions and is valued for erosion control, habitat, and traditional medicine uses.
Climate Match for your location
See how well Mugwort grows in your area.
Enter your ZIP code and we'll show you how this plant fits your local climate.
Why grow it
California mugwort outperforms many ornamental shrubs in extremely dry, poor-soil settings where water is limited. Its fine texture and silvery foliage provide visual interest without demanding irrigation once established, making it useful for low-maintenance landscapes in Mediterranean or semi-arid climates. The plant also establishes quickly on disturbed slopes, supporting native insects and birds while stabilizing soil.
Watch out for
California mugwort can spread vigorously by rhizomes and self-seeding in favorable conditions, so plan for containment in smaller gardens. The plant prefers well-draining soil and may develop root rot or fungal issues in areas with high humidity or poor drainage. Established plants are quite hardy, but young transplants benefit from consistent water during their first growing season to establish deep roots.
Overview
- Form
- Growth Rate
- Size
- Dormancy
- Family
- Asteraceae
Native to the United States
Native Range
California and northern Mexico
Native to: California, Nevada, Oregon, Washington
Seasonality
Bloom Season
Harvest Season
Edible Parts
Season of Interest
Shrub
Woody multi-stem plants at eye level.
Succession Role
Tolerances & Soil
Establishment & Care
- Establishment
- Maintenance
- Propagation
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