Russian Wormwood
IOverview
Overview
Russian Wormwood (Artemisia sacrorum) is a perennial plant native to regions including Altay, Amur, Buryatiya, and China North-Central, among others. This member of the Asteraceae family thrives in full sun with varying soil types—light, medium, or heavy—and can tolerate both dry and moist conditions. Hardy from zones 3-7, it grows up to one meter tall and is known for its edible leaves, making it a valuable addition to gardens not only for their ornamental value but also as a culinary ingredient. Its adaptability across diverse habitats makes Russian Wormwood a noteworthy species in botanical studies.
What is Russian Wormwood?
Russian Wormwood (Artemisia sacrorum) is a perennial plant native to regions including Altay, Amur, Buryatiya, and China North-Central, among others. This member of the Asteraceae family thrives in full sun with varying soil types—light, medium, or heavy—and can tolerate both dry and moist conditions.
What is Russian Wormwood used for?
Traditionally used for stress & anxiety, digestion. Each claim is evidence-rated — see Section II for full citations.
IIBenefits & evidence
2 claims · traditional-use context
Benefits & evidence
2 claims · traditional-use context- Traditional-use note: Russian Wormwood appears in herbal sources around calming and relaxation traditions, often as a decoction. PlantSage presents this as ethnobotanical context, not as medical advice.
Traditional context only. This reviewed claim keeps the original moderate confidence level, but avoids treatment, disease, dosage, or guaranteed-effect language.
▲ ModerateStress & anxiety → - Russian Wormwood is traditionally used in Chinese medicine to support digestion, often prepared as a tea. It may help alleviate digestive discomfort and promote healthy gut function.
The bitter compounds in Russian Wormwood stimulate the production of digestive juices and bile, aiding in the breakdown of food and improving overall digestive health.
▲ ModerateDigestion →
IV·bMixology suggestions
2 drafts
Mixology suggestions
2 draftsVCultivation
Cultivation
How to grow Russian Wormwood for the first time
Start with Russian Wormwood by ensuring you have the right conditions and care practices.
- 1
What you'll need
A suitable location, seeds or young plants, a garden fork, and a watering can.
- 2
Best time to plant
Plant in spring after the last frost or in fall before the first freeze.
- 3
Soil and container prep
Choose a well-draining soil with a pH between 6.0 and 7.5, and prepare by loosening the soil with a fork.
- 4
Sowing or transplanting
Direct sow seeds in the garden after danger of frost is past, or start indoors 4-6 weeks before planting out.
- 5
First two weeks
Water regularly to keep the soil moist but not waterlogged. Monitor for pests and diseases.
- 6
Ongoing care
Water deeply once a week, especially during dry spells. Mulch around the base to retain moisture and suppress weeds.
- 7
Harvest or pruning
Prune in late winter before new growth starts to encourage bushy foliage and prevent legginess.
- 8
Common mistakes
Overwatering, planting in heavy clay soil, neglecting to mulch, and not providing enough sunlight.
VIEdible & utility
Edible & utility
VIIDistribution
34 native · 0 introduced
Distribution
34 native · 0 introducedIXSpecimen gallery
1 image
Specimen gallery
1 imageXSee also
8 related
See also
8 relatedPlants you might compare or use together — scored by shared family, common use cases, and growing requirements.
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