# common mugwort (*Artemisia vulgaris*) Common mugwort is a leafy plant that grows tall and has soft, green leaves. It can be found in many places and is known for its strong smell, especially when you touch it! - **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Snaps:** 113 - **Habitat:** Grasslands ![common mugwort](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Artemisia_vulgaris_-_K%C3%B6hler%E2%80%93s_Medizinal-Pflanzen-016.jpg&width=800) Photo: Franz Eugen Köhler, Köhler's Medizinal-Pflanzen, Public domain · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Artemisia_vulgaris_-_K%C3%B6hler%E2%80%93s_Medizinal-Pflanzen-016.jpg) ## Appearance The common mugwort is a tall, erect plant with reddish-brown stems. It has deeply lobed leaves that are dark green above and distinctly silvery-white and fuzzy underneath. Its small, inconspicuous flowers are greenish-yellow or reddish-brown. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Plantae - **Phylum:** Tracheophyta - **Class:** Magnoliopsida - **Order:** Asterales - **Family:** Asteraceae - **Genus:** Artemisia ## Interesting facts - Ancient Romans planted mugwort by roadsides to soothe tired feet! - Its scientific name 'Artemisia' honors Artemis, the Greek goddess of the hunt! - Mugwort can grow over 6 feet tall, towering above many plants! - The fuzzy white undersides of its leaves feel super soft! ## Special abilities - **Rhizome Power:** Common mugwort has spreading underground stems (rhizomes) that help it quickly colonize and spread across open ground. - **Tough Terrain Master:** Common mugwort can grow in very poor, disturbed soils, which helps it thrive where other plants struggle. - **Aromatic Defense:** Common mugwort has chemical compounds in its leaves that deter many herbivores from eating it. ## Measurements & details - **Height:** 60-180 cm - **Spread:** 50-100 cm - **Flower Size:** 0.2-0.5 cm - **Bloom Season:** Late summer to early fall - **Edible:** Yes - **Toxicity:** Mild - **Lifecycle:** Perennial - **Pollination Method:** Wind ## Ecological connections - **Eats:** Mugwort Leaf Beetle (*Chrysolina artemisiae*) — Beetle adults and larvae feed on its leaves. - **Eats:** Wormwood Pug (*Eupithecia absinthiata*) — This moth's caterpillars munch on mugwort foliage. - **Parasitizes:** [Field Dodder](https://www.snappit.app/explore/field-dodder) (*Cuscuta campestris*) — This vine-like plant attaches to steal mugwort's nutrients. - **Eats:** [Human](https://www.snappit.app/explore/human) (*Homo sapiens*) — Used in traditional foods and herbal medicine. ## 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. - [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. - [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. - [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. - [Pollinator Magnet](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/pollinator-magnet): Describes plants that are particularly attractive and beneficial to a wide range of pollinating organisms. - [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:** 1/5 · Very low Always ask an adult before touching or picking plants. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify common 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 common mugwort? 60-180 cm ### How wide does common mugwort spread? 50-100 cm ### How big are the flowers on common mugwort? 0.2-0.5 cm ### When does common mugwort bloom? Late summer to early fall ### Is common mugwort edible? Yes ### Is common mugwort toxic? Mild ### What is common mugwort's lifecycle? Perennial ## Where to spot - [Ashton Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/ashton-historic-district) — Rhode Island, US · Historic District - [Barrington Civic Center Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/barrington-civic-center-historic-district) — Rhode Island, US · Historic District - [Belltown Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/belltown-historic-district) — Connecticut, US · Historic District - [Brattleboro Downtown Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/brattleboro-downtown-historic-district) — Vermont, US · Historic District - [Cambridge Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/cambridge-historic-district) — New York, US · Historic District - [Cape Charles Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/cape-charles-historic-district) — US · Historic District [View all places to see common mugwort](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/common-mugwort) ## 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: [Common Mugwort: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-mugwort)