Flower Library
Artemisia
Artemisia · Asteraceae
Artemisia is the soft silver among foliages: upright shoots with narrow leaves, silvery-haired on both sides, that release a spicy wormwood scent as you work. Where eucalyptus feels cool and smooth, artemisia brings a woolly, organic character. In season we buy it by the bunch at the Veiling Rhein-Maas.
- Season
- July – August – September – October
- Vase life
- 7–14 days
- Latin name
- Artemisia
- Colors
- Silver-grey (foliage), Silver-white, Grey-green
The most important cut varieties are selections of Artemisia ludoviciana such as „Silver Queen“ and „Valerie Finnis“ with almost white, lance-shaped leaves. The genus also supplies classics like wormwood, tarragon and southernwood — a family full of aromatic plants, and you can smell that heritage in the bouquet.
Floristically artemisia is a mediator: its pale grey connects colours that would clash side by side and calms colourful summer bouquets. In monochrome work in white, pink or lilac it replaces classic green almost entirely — the bouquet then feels cooler, more refined, almost dusty-romantic.
Its prime begins in late summer, when the shoots have firmed up and additionally carry fine, silvery flower plumes. With dusky pink roses, hydrangeas and lavender this creates the much-quoted cottage-garden-meets-Provence mood so sought after at weddings.
Two craft notes: young, soft shoots flag quickly in the vase — so we buy mature stock with a firm stem base. And the felted foliage must not dip into the water, or it rots and clouds the water within a day.
Important for advising customers: artemisia species contain bitter compounds and essential oils, including thujone. Irrelevant for a bouquet on the table, but nibbling cats, dogs or toddlers should not get at it. Dried, artemisia keeps its colour and scent superbly, by the way — a classic for herb and protection bouquets in the old tradition.
Is Artemisia toxic to children and pets?
- Children
- Mildly irritating
- Cats
- Mildly irritating
- Dogs
- Mildly irritating
Artemisia contains bitter compounds and essential oils, including thujone. Mildly toxic or irritating to cats, dogs and children — small nibbles usually cause only stomach upset, larger amounts warrant veterinary or medical advice.
Typical symptoms: After ingestion: drooling, vomiting, diarrhoea, loss of appetite; with large amounts, restlessness or tremors are possible.
In an emergency:call the German poison control centre in Bonn on +49 228 19240 (24/7) — for pets, contact an emergency vet directly. This information does not replace medical or veterinary advice.
Overview: toxic & non-toxic plants for cats, dogs and children
Care
- 01Choose mature stems and cut them at an angle.
- 02Fully strip the foliage from the lower stem — the felt rots in water.
- 03Place in fresh water and change it every two days.
- 04Keep cool; young shoots wilt quickly in warm room air.
- 05Recut limp shoots and stand them deep in water overnight.
- 06To dry, hang bunches upside down in an airy, dark place.
Frequently asked
- Is artemisia toxic to cats or dogs?
- Artemisia contains bitter compounds and essential oils such as thujone, which can cause drooling, vomiting or diarrhoea in cats and dogs after eating; larger amounts can also irritate the nervous system. A bouquet in the vase is uncritical as long as pets do not nibble on it.
- What does artemisia smell like?
- Spicy and herbal with a clear wormwood note — not a floral scent but a herb aroma released when the leaves are touched. Many customers immediately associate it with herb gardens and late summer; dried, the scent lingers for months.
- What is the difference between artemisia, cotton lavender and dusty miller?
- All three provide silvery foliage but with different characters: artemisia has narrow, soft leaves on upright shoots and smells of wormwood. Cotton lavender is finer, almost coral-like feathered, with a camphor scent. Dusty miller carries broad, deeply lobed leaves with the whitest felt — and is the only one of the three genuinely toxic to pets.
- How long does artemisia last in the vase?
- Mature late-summer shoots last seven to fourteen days, outliving most blooms. Young, soft early-summer stock is far more delicate — when in doubt, test briefly: a firm stem that springs back when bent will last.