# absinthe wormwood (*Artemisia absinthium*) Absinthe wormwood is a tall plant with beautiful, silvery-green leaves. It has a strong smell and is known for its use in drinks and herbal remedies. - **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 2/5 · Low - **Snaps:** 3 - **Habitat:** Grasslands ![absinthe wormwood](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Artemisia_absinthium_P1210748.jpg&width=800) Photo: David Monniaux, CC BY-SA 3.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Artemisia_absinthium_P1210748.jpg) ## Appearance The absinthe wormwood is a striking plant with finely divided, silvery-green leaves that feel soft and fuzzy. It grows upright, producing tiny, yellowish, inconspicuous flowers on branched stems in late summer. Its unique color makes it stand out from other green plants. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Plantae - **Phylum:** Tracheophyta - **Class:** Magnoliopsida - **Order:** Asterales - **Family:** Asteraceae - **Genus:** Artemisia ## Interesting facts - A famous green drink called 'absinthe' was named after this very plant! - Ancient Egyptians and Greeks used this special plant for its healing and protective powers. - Its super bitter taste is so strong, it inspired the word 'wormwood' for something unpleasant! - This tough plant can grow in really poor soil where many other plants struggle to survive. ## Special abilities - **Bitterness Blast:** Absinthe wormwood produces super bitter chemicals that make most hungry animals avoid eating its leaves. - **Sun Shield Leaves:** It has silvery-green, fuzzy leaves that reflect harsh sunlight, helping it stay cool and save water. - **Growth Inhibitor:** This plant can release chemicals into the soil that stop other plants from growing too close to it. ## Measurements & details - **Height:** 60-150 cm - **Spread:** 30-90 cm - **Flower Size:** 0.2-0.5 cm - **Bloom Season:** Summer - **Edible:** No - **Toxicity:** Moderate - **Lifecycle:** Perennial - **Pollination Method:** Wind ## Ecological connections - **Depends on:** Wormwood Aphid (*Aphis absinthii*) — This aphid feeds specifically on the sap of wormwood plants. - **Eats:** Wormwood Clearwing Moth (*Chamaesphecia annellata*) — Its larvae bore into and consume the roots of the wormwood plant. - **Parasitizes:** Wormwood Rust (*Puccinia absinthii*) — This fungus infects wormwood plants, causing rust-like lesions. ## Traits - [Aromatic](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/aromatic): Aromatic plants produce and emit fragrant volatile organic compounds, often for defense or to attract pollinators. - [Flowering](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/flowering): Flowering plants are any plants that produce flowers as part of their reproductive cycle. - [Biennial](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/biennial): Biennial plants complete their life cycle over two growing seasons, typically forming foliage in the first year and flowering/seeding in the second. - [Cold Hardy](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/cold-hardy): Cold hardy plants are able to withstand low temperatures and freezing conditions without significant damage. - [Fragrant Flower](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/fragrant-flower): Fragrant flowers emit a pleasant aroma, often to attract pollinators or for defense. - [Medicinal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/medicinal): Medicinal plants possess chemical compounds that can be used for therapeutic purposes to treat illnesses or maintain health. - [Drought Tolerant](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/drought-tolerant): Drought-tolerant plants can survive and flourish in conditions with limited water availability. - [Edible](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/edible): Edible plants are those parts of a plant that are considered safe for human consumption. - [Grassland](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/grassland): Grassland habitats are terrestrial biomes dominated by grasses and herbaceous plants, supporting a variety of grazing animals. - [Spice](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/spice): This human use trait indicates species from which spices are derived, used for flavoring, preserving food, or as aromatic agents. ## Collections - [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/plants) ## Safety **Danger:** 2/5 · Low Do not eat any part of this plant without asking an adult first. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify absinthe wormwood? Start with the whole plant, then compare leaf arrangement, leaf edges, stems and any flowers or fruit. Opposite leaves grow in pairs; alternate leaves come one at a time along the stem. These details tell you far more together than a single green leaf does. Plant Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How tall is absinthe wormwood? 60-150 cm ### How wide does absinthe wormwood spread? 30-90 cm ### How big are the flowers on absinthe wormwood? 0.2-0.5 cm ### When does absinthe wormwood bloom? Summer ### Is absinthe wormwood edible? No ### Is absinthe wormwood toxic? Moderate ### What is absinthe wormwood's lifecycle? Perennial ## Where to spot - [Harraseeket Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/harraseeket-historic-district) — Maine, US · Historic District - [Roosevelt Park Zoo](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/roosevelt-park-zoo) — North Dakota, US · Zoo - [Danebod](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/danebod) — Minnesota, US · Historic District - [Lake Hiddenwood Recreation Area](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/lake-hiddenwood-recreation-area) — South Dakota, US · Park [View all places to see absinthe wormwood](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/absinthe-wormwood) ## More Plants - [white snakeroot](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-snakeroot) (*Ageratina altissima*) - [tree-of-heaven](https://www.snappit.app/explore/tree-of-heaven) (*Ailanthus altissima*) - [western sword fern](https://www.snappit.app/explore/western-sword-fern) (*Polystichum munitum*) - [common milkweed](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-milkweed) (*Asclepias syriaca*) --- Source: [Absinthe Wormwood: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/absinthe-wormwood)