# California mugwort (*Artemisia douglasiana*)

California mugwort is a leafy plant that grows tall and has a lovely smell. It is often found in sunny places and can be used for making tea or for special ceremonies.

- **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant)
- **Rarity:** Common
- **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low
- **Snaps:** 2
- **Habitat:** Wetlands

![California mugwort](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Artemisia_douglasiana_1.jpg&width=800)

Photo: stonebird from inglewood, california, usa, CC BY-SA 2.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Artemisia_douglasiana_1.jpg)

## Appearance

The California mugwort is a bushy perennial with upright stems. Its soft, lobed leaves are green on top and silvery-white underneath, giving it a shimmering look. Tiny, greenish-yellow flowers bloom in clusters, often going unnoticed.

## Taxonomy

- **Kingdom:** Plantae
- **Phylum:** Tracheophyta
- **Class:** Magnoliopsida
- **Order:** Asterales
- **Family:** Asteraceae
- **Genus:** Artemisia

## Interesting facts

- Crushing its leaves releases a unique, refreshing fragrance!
- Its scientific name, Artemisia, honors an ancient Greek goddess!
- Some people believe it brings clarity to dreams!
- This tough plant can help stabilize eroding riverbanks!

## Special abilities

- **Rhizome Runner:** California mugwort can spread by underground stems, helping it form dense colonies and recover quickly.
- **Aromatic Shield:** California mugwort has essential oils that give it a strong scent, which helps deter some hungry animals.
- **Disturbance Pioneer:** California mugwort can quickly grow in disturbed soils, helping it colonize new areas like roadsides and clearings.

## Measurements & details

- **Height:** 50-150 cm
- **Spread:** 30-100 cm
- **Flower Size:** 0.2-0.5 cm
- **Bloom Season:** Summer-fall
- **Edible:** Yes
- **Toxicity:** Mild
- **Lifecycle:** Perennial
- **Pollination Method:** Wind

## Ecological connections

- **Eats:** Douglas's Mugwort Moth (*Eucosma douglasiana*) — Larvae feed on its leaves
- **Eats:** Artemisia Aphid (*Macrosiphoniella artemisiae*) — Aphids suck sap from stems
- **Eaten by:** [Mule Deer](https://www.snappit.app/explore/mule-deer) (*Odocoileus hemionus*) — Browses on its foliage

## 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.
- [Shrub](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/shrub): A shrub is a woody plant smaller than a tree, typically with multiple stems branching from or near the ground.
- [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.
- [Edible](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/edible): Edible plants are those parts of a plant that are considered safe for human consumption.
- [Wetland](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/wetland): This habitat trait identifies species found in wetlands, which are areas of land saturated with water, either permanently or seasonally, including marshes, swamps, and bogs.

## Collections

- [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/plants)

## Safety

**Danger:** 1/5 · Very low

Always ask an adult before touching or picking plants.

## Frequently Asked Questions

### How to identify California mugwort?

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 California mugwort?

50-150 cm

### How wide does California mugwort spread?

30-100 cm

### How big are the flowers on California mugwort?

0.2-0.5 cm

### When does California mugwort bloom?

Summer-fall

### Is California mugwort edible?

Yes

### Is California mugwort toxic?

Mild

### What is California mugwort's lifecycle?

Perennial

## Where to spot

- [Golden Hill](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/golden-hill) — California, US · Neighborhood
- [Marshall Gold Discovery State Historic Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/marshall-gold-discovery-state-historic-park) — California, US · State Park

## 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*)

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Source: [California mugwort: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/california-mugwort)