Michaux's Wormwood
Artemisia michauxiana
- Native to:
- Canada, United States
Stan Shebs
Taxonomy
- Division:
- Magnoliophyta | - Flowering plants
- Family:
- Asteraceae
- Genus:
- Artemisia
- Species:
- Artemisia michauxiana
- USDA Symbol:
- ARMI4
Growth Characteristics
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Growth Habit:
- Forb/herb , Subshrub
- Height:
- 120 cm
- Light Requirements:
- Full Sun
- Drought Tolerance:
- Low
- Bloom Months:
- jul,aug,sep
Keystone Species Ranking
- Caterpillar Keystone:
- ★★★★☆ Butterfly & moth species supported by this genus (NWF)
Host Plant for Caterpillars
Agonopterix clarkei, Aroga eldorada, Caloreas multimarginata, Epiblema benignata, Eucosma agricolana, Larch Coneworm Moth (Eucosma mandana), Oidaematophorus lienigianus, Phaneta dorsiatomana
Garden & Ecology Notes
- Wildlife Value:
- birds, small mammals
- Deer Resistant:
- Yes
- Fragrant:
- Yes
Soil Requirements
- Soil Type:
- well-drained, rocky or sandy loam
- pH:
- 6.0 - 7.5 (slightly acidic to neutral)
- Drainage:
- excellent drainage required
- Moisture:
- dry to moderate
- Notes:
- commonly found in alpine and subalpine meadows
Propagation & Germination
- Stratification:
- Cold/moist stratification required — 30–60 days
- Germination Time:
- 14–30 days
- Notes:
- Seeds require light for germination. Surface sow and do not cover with soil.
The above propagation data sourced from Claude AI
Pre-treatment: 5 month outdoor winter stratification or a minimum of 3 month cold, moist stratification for optimum germination.
Establishment: Seeds are hand collected in mid September when achenes turn grey and are easily removed from the disc. Seeds are collected in paper bags and kept in a well ventilated drying shed prior to cleaning. A. michauxiana occurs in rocky places in the mountains, from B.C. and Alberta to California, south to Nevada, Utah and Wyoming.
Source: npn.rngr.net