Artemisia Silver Mound — quick answer

Artemisia Silver Mound (Artemisia schmidtiana) is a garden plant, a member of the Asteraceae family. It is traditionally associated with None for internal human diseases (primarily ornamental), Soil Erosion (garden application), Garden Pest Deterrence (external, potential), Deer Browse Damage (garden protection). Reported toxicity level: Non-toxic. Evidence level: traditional. ✓ Botanical Name — Artemisia schmidtiana 'Silver Mound' ✓ Family — Asteraceae ✓ Key Feature — Finely textured, silvery-gray foliage forming a dense, mounding habit. ✓ Primary Use — Highly valued ornamental landscape…

✓ Ornamental Value — Highly prized for its aesthetic appeal, offering fine texture and silvery foliage to garden designs, enhancing visual interest and garden structure. ✓ Aromatic Properties — The foliage releases a subtle, pleasant aroma when brushed, potentially offering mild mood-enhancing or insect-repelling qualities in the garden environment, contributing to sensory gardens. ✓ Drought Tolerance — Its natural resilience in dry, exposed conditions makes it a valuable choice for xeriscaping and low-water gardens, contributing to sustainable ecological landscaping practices. ✓ Deer…

What is Artemisia Silver Mound used for?

✓ Ornamental Value — Highly prized for its aesthetic appeal, offering fine texture and silvery foliage to garden designs, enhancing visual interest and garden structure. ✓ Aromatic Properties — The foliage releases a subtle, pleasant aroma when brushed, potentially offering mild mood-enhancing or insect-repelling…

How is Artemisia Silver Mound used?

✓ Landscape Design — Primarily used as an ornamental plant for its striking silver foliage in mass plantings, rock gardens, border edging, and general garden use, providing textural contrast. ✓ Groundcover — Its dense, mounding habit makes it an effective groundcover, suppressing weeds and adding fine texture to the…

Is Artemisia Silver Mound safe?

✓ Ornamental Use Only — Artemisia schmidtiana 'Silver Mound' is cultivated primarily for its aesthetic appeal and is not recommended for internal medicinal use or consumption. ✓ External Contact Precaution — Individuals with sensitive skin should wear gloves when handling the plant to prevent potential contact…

Does Artemisia Silver Mound have side effects?

✓ Allergic Reactions — Sensitive individuals may experience contact dermatitis from handling the foliage, characterized by skin irritation, redness, or itching, especially after prolonged exposure. ✓ Phototoxicity (Rare) — Though less common with Artemisia schmidtiana, certain furanocoumarins found in the broader…

How do you grow Artemisia Silver Mound?

✓ Sunlight — Thrives best in full sun to partial shade, ensuring optimal foliage color and compact growth; insufficient light can lead to leggy growth. ✓ Soil Preference — Requires well-drained soil; tolerates dry to average moisture levels and shows a preference for clay and alkaline soil types, avoiding waterlogged…

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Trusted Artemisia Silver Mound Garden Plant for Garden Interest

Artemisia schmidtiana

Medicinal
AsteraceaeEastern Asia, including mountainous regions (Japan, Russia)
Japan, Russia
4 images
0

Care Disclaimer: Plant care recommendations are general guidelines based on common growing conditions. Individual results may vary based on your local environment, climate, and care routine. If your plant is toxic, keep it away from children and pets, and consult a veterinarian if accidental ingestion occurs.

1.Artemisia Silver Mound — Overview

Artemisia Silver Mound — Main Image

Artemisia schmidtiana, widely recognized as 'Silver Mound' Artemisia, is a captivating herbaceous perennial. It is celebrated for its distinctive finely textured, silver-gray foliage that forms a dense, hemispherical mound. It originates from the vast and often harsh landscapes of Northern Asia, including regions of Japan, Korea, and Siberia. This resilient species naturally thrives in sub-alpine meadows and rocky, exposed slopes, demonstrating remarkable adaptability to challenging environmental conditions. Botanically, it is classified within the expansive Asteraceae family, a group that encompasses numerous species valued for both their medicinal properties and ornamental beauty. Some of its relatives are more potent medicinally, such as Artemisia annua (Sweet Annie) or Artemisia absinthium (Wormwood).

Unlike them, Artemisia schmidtiana 'Silver Mound' is primarily cultivated for its aesthetic appeal in Western horticulture. It is not traditionally recognized in major codified systems like Ayurveda, TCM, or Unani for internal medicinal applications. This is largely attributed to its comparatively lower concentration of therapeutically active compounds, notably thujone. The 'Silver Mound' cultivar is particularly prized for its compact, cushion-like growth habit. It typically reaches a modest 30-45 cm (12-18 inches) in both height and spread. This makes it an ideal choice for rock gardens, border edging, and an elegant groundcover.

Its delicate, deeply lobed, almost fern-like leaves are densely covered in fine, silvery hairs (trichomes). These impart its characteristic frosted appearance and play a crucial role in minimizing water loss in arid environments. It does produce small, inconspicuous yellow-green flowers in late summer. However, these are often considered secondary to its striking foliage and are sometimes removed to maintain the plant's neat, mounded form. Modern pharmacological research specifically on Artemisia schmidtiana 'Silver Mound' is limited, focusing more on its ornamental resilience. Even so, phytochemical analyses confirm the presence of compounds typical of the broader Artemisia genus.

1.1.Artemisia Silver Mound — Key Features

  • Botanical Name — Artemisia schmidtiana 'Silver Mound'
  • Common Names — Silver Mound Artemisia, Wormwood (general genus name), Sage (general genus name), Mugwort (general genus name).
  • Family — Asteraceae (Daisy Family)
  • Foliage — Delicate, feathery, deeply lobed, silvery-gray leaves covered in fine trichomes.
  • Growth Habit — Dense, compact, cushion-like mounding herbaceous perennial.
  • Size — Typically reaches 12 inches (30 cm) tall and 18 inches (45 cm) wide.
  • Sun Exposure — Prefers full sun to partial shade for optimal growth and foliage color.
  • Soil Preference — Requires well-drained, dry to average moisture soil; tolerant of clay and alkaline conditions.
  • Drought Tolerance — Highly drought-tolerant once established, suitable for xeriscaping.
  • Deer Resistance — Generally unpalatable to deer, making it a good choice for deer-prone areas.
  • Ornamental Value — Primarily cultivated for its outstanding aesthetic appeal, texture, and silver hue in gardens.

1.2.Artemisia Silver Mound — Quick Summary

  • Botanical Name — Artemisia schmidtiana 'Silver Mound'
  • Family — Asteraceae
  • Key Feature — Finely textured, silvery-gray foliage forming a dense, mounding habit.
  • Primary Use — Highly valued ornamental landscape plant and groundcover.
  • Habitat — Native to Northern Asia, thriving in dry, exposed, sub-alpine conditions.
  • Medicinal Note — Not traditionally used internally; possesses lower active compound concentrations compared to medicinal relatives in the Artemisia genus.

2.Artemisia Silver Mound — Scientific Identity

3.Artemisia Silver Mound — Categories & Tags

4.Artemisia Silver Mound — Appearance & Identification

5.Artemisia Silver Mound — Water Requirements

  • Sunlight — Thrives best in full sun to partial shade, ensuring optimal foliage color and compact growth; insufficient light can lead to leggy growth.
  • Soil Preference — Requires well-drained soil; tolerates dry to average moisture levels and shows a preference for clay and alkaline soil types, avoiding waterlogged conditions.
  • Watering — Highly drought-tolerant once established, making it suitable for xeriscapes; ensure soil dries out between waterings to prevent root rot.
  • Hardiness — Resilient in USDA Hardiness Zones 1b to 9, demonstrating a wide adaptability to various climates and temperature extremes.
  • Maintenance — Low maintenance; prune back in late fall or early spring to maintain its tidy, mounded form and prevent the center from splitting, which can occur in overly rich soils.
  • Propagation — Easily propagated by crown division in spring or by taking rooted stem cuttings during the growing season, allowing for garden expansion.
  • Environmental Tolerance — Highly tolerant of urban pollution and salt, making it a robust choice for city gardens, roadside plantings, and coastal landscapes.
  • Container Growing — Excellent for outdoor pots and containers, often used as a 'filler' component in mixed arrangements due to its consistent texture and color.

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Written by: Flora Medical Global Editorial Team

Reviewed by: Flora Medical Global Botanical Review Panel

Last Updated: June 20, 2026