# Silver Wormwood (*Artemisia ludoviciana*) Silver Wormwood is a soft, silvery plant that grows in many places. It has lovely, feathery leaves and can be found in fields and along roadsides. This plant is special because it smells nice when you touch it! - **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Snaps:** 4 - **Habitat:** Grasslands ![Silver Wormwood](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/%28MHNT%29_Artemisia_ludoviciana_-_Serres_du_Museum_de_Toulouse.jpg&width=800) Photo: Didier Descouens, CC BY-SA 4.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:%28MHNT%29_Artemisia_ludoviciana_-_Serres_du_Museum_de_Toulouse.jpg) ## Appearance The Silver Wormwood has striking silvery-white, fuzzy leaves that shimmer in the sun, making it stand out from greener plants. Its upright stems create a bushy appearance, topped with tiny, inconspicuous yellowish flowers in late summer. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Plantae - **Phylum:** Tracheophyta - **Class:** Magnoliopsida - **Order:** Asterales - **Family:** Asteraceae - **Genus:** Artemisia ## Interesting facts - Ancient people believed this plant could ward off evil spirits and bring good luck! - Its bright silver leaves mean it's sometimes called 'Ghost Plant' or 'White Sage'! - Rub its leaves for a strong, spicy smell that's used in some perfumes! - This tough plant can grow where others struggle, like roadsides and rocky fields! ## Special abilities - **Water Saver:** Silver Wormwood has tiny white hairs on its leaves that help it reflect sunlight and reduce water loss, staying hydrated in dry places. - **Tough Colonizer:** Silver Wormwood can spread underground using rhizomes, allowing it to quickly form dense patches and take over new areas. - **Scent Shield:** Silver Wormwood has a strong, distinctive scent from oils in its leaves that helps deter many hungry animals from taking a bite. ## Measurements & details - **Height:** 30-90 cm - **Spread:** 60-120 cm - **Flower Size:** 0.2-0.5 cm - **Bloom Season:** Late summer to fall (August-October) - **Edible:** Yes - **Toxicity:** Mild - **Lifecycle:** Perennial - **Pollination Method:** Wind ## Ecological connections - **Eats:** Wormwood Flower Moth (*Schinia mortua*) — Larvae consume the plant's flowers. - **Shelter:** Common Green Lacewing (*Chrysoperla carnea*) — Adults and larvae find refuge and hunt pests on the plant. - **Shelter:** [Field Ant](https://www.snappit.app/explore/field-ant) (*Formica pallidefulva*) — Ants forage on the plant and may nest nearby. ## Traits - [Furry](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/furry): Furry describes animals possessing a dense covering of soft hair or fur. - [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. - [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. - [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. - [Rapid Growing](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/rapid-growing): Rapid growing plants exhibit accelerated growth rates, quickly increasing in size and biomass within a short period. ## 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 Silver 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 Silver Wormwood? 30-90 cm ### How wide does Silver Wormwood spread? 60-120 cm ### How big are the flowers on Silver Wormwood? 0.2-0.5 cm ### When does Silver Wormwood bloom? Late summer to fall (August-October) ### Is Silver Wormwood edible? Yes ### Is Silver Wormwood toxic? Mild ### What is Silver Wormwood's lifecycle? Perennial ## Where to spot - [Botanical Research Institute of Texas](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/botanical-research-institute-of-texas) — Texas, US · Botanical Garden - [Boyce Thompson Arboretum](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/boyce-thompson-arboretum) — Arizona, US · Botanical Garden - [Thurber](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/thurber) — Texas, US · Neighborhood - [Reptile Gardens](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/reptile-gardens) — South Dakota, US · Zoo - [Dinosaur Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/dinosaur-park) — South Dakota, US · Botanical Garden - [Beaver Creek Provincial Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/beaver-creek-provincial-park) — British Columbia, CA · State Park [View all places to see Silver Wormwood](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/silver-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: [Silver Wormwood: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/silver-wormwood)