Artemisia vulgaris/NJ

Taxonomy

Domain	Eukarya
Kingdom	Plantae
Phylum	Magnoliophyta
Class	Magnoliopsida
Superorder	Asteranae
Order	Asterales
Family	Asteraceae
Subfamily	Asteroideae
Tribe	Anthemideae
Genus	Artemisia

Scientific Name

Artemisia vulgaris

Common Name

mugwort

Common Name: mugwort, common wormwood
Family Name: Asteraceae - Aster family
Native Range: Eurasia
NJ Status: Widespread and highly threatening to native plant communities.

General Description

• Clump-forming perennial with erect flowering stems
• Grows from thick underground horizontal stems (rhizomes)

Leaves

• Young leaves are opposite, with white, wooly hairs underneath, undivided
• Mature leaves are egg shaped, 2 - 4” long, 1 - 3” wide, deeply lobed
• Upper leaf surfaces may be smooth to slightly hairy.
• Stems may reach 5’ in height and become woody with age
• Stems are often red, brown or purple
• Emit a spicy scent when crushed

Flowers

• Blooms July to October
• Inconspicuous clusters at the top of the plant

Fruit

• Seeds are inclosed in the fruit (achene). Achene are brown, ridged and oblong with a narrow based.
• Viable seed are rarely produced in North America outside of green houses
• Spreads aggressively by rhizomes

Habitat

• Waste places, roadsides, turf grass
• Well adapted to mowing

Commercially Available

No, often found infesting nursery stock and top soil

Look-alikes

garden chrysanthemums

• Mugwort leaves are more hairy, distinguish by flower common ragweed (Ambrosia artemisiifolia)
• Native, weedy herb with similar leaves, distinguish by flower spike
• Leaves have no odor when crushed

Control Recommendations

Foliar Spray: FS-7

• Aminopyralid 0.27%
• Please see our Herbicide Use Suggestions and Mixing Guide for more information
• Apply in early summer; mowing may be utilized as a pre-treatment, but allow 4-8 weeks for re-growth before utilizing foliar spray

List of Resources

• USDA PLANTS
• Virginia Cooperative Extension
• Uva, R. H., J. C. Neal, and J. M. DiTomaso. 1997. Weeds of the Northeast. Ithaca, New York: Cornell University Press