I recently saw a flleeting general reference that wormwood, when planted as a border around the garden, is known to keep animals out of the garden. I don't know the first thing about wormwood, and I don't believe everything I read, so....anyone have experience with wormwood. I see based on the plant files that there are several varieties, some of which are very invasive. Thoughts?
Wormwood
The only thing I know for sure is that the expression "bitter as wormwood" is true, true, true. I made some tea with it and there was no amount of dilution or honey that would make it bearable. But as for planting, I haven't done it so I can't help. Just adding a little color. :}
As for keeping critters out of the garden, have you looked at marigolds?
This is informational mainly. I don't like artemisias they don't hold up well to the humidity for me and just look terrible (in my garden) from Aug-Nov. The term wormwood is a traditional rather than scientific one, reffering to a number of members of the artemesia genus that have been used over the centuries in liquers and medicines. Most are very bitter or have strong fragrance. Southernwood is often considered a wormwood and most of the wormwoods are tolerant of clay soils. The other major wormwoods:
1. common wormwood (Artemesia absinthium)
2. 'Silver King' artemesia (A. albula)
3. Annual sweet wormwood (A. annua)
4. Fringed wormwood (A. frigida)
5. Roman wormwood (A. pontica)
6. silver mound artemesia (A. schmidtiana)
7. Beach wormwood (A. stellerana)
8. Southernwood (A. abrotanum)
That ought to give you enough to go to the PlantFiles and find out more!
Debbie
This message was edited Jun 20, 2006 5:12 PM
I've heard this about wormwood too. I'm planning on a round herb garden with a border of wormwood and some other smellies, like tansy and mugwort. I have seen woodchucks, voles (feral cats have knocked these down some), rabbits, foxes, dogs, deer, and even a bear in my garden, so I will see if these plants will keep anything out. I'm mostly interested in keeping dogs out. I've got a flat of Artemisia absinthium growing. It is supposed to be pretty aggressive, but that's why God made lawnmowers.
Then you might want to read these 2 links (scroll up & down the pages):
Companion Planting: Wormwood or Artemisia: http://www.ghorganics.com/Wormwood.html
Wormwood (it's at the bottom of this page): http://www.ghorganics.com/page2.html
~* Robin
wow, thanks all!
*~~]:^)
~* Robin