You're planning your landscape and you realize there is an
out of the way spot that's dry, maybe even a little barren and
you don't think you can get to it this year. I have an herb for
you! Mugwort, Artemisia vulgaris, also known as Felon Herb,
cronewort, St. John's Plant, and Wild Wormwood. It can be
grown almost anywhere! I know a few fingers are ready to hit
reply and yell at me "It's invasive! Don't grow it!", but it can be
grown with some care and it really is a fascinating herb with
many great uses! Plus, it's such a grand, majestic herb that
can tower up to 10 foot in the right conditions. It's hard to
resist growing at least one plant if you love herbs.
Mugwort has a fragrance much like sage, some say mixed
with a little mint. It's been used throughout the centuries by
herbalists, Native Americans and others in many ways. It's
used today in dream pillows, sachets or bundles to keep
away moths, as a poultice for rashes and stings, and as a
bath herb when muscles are sore. Soak your feet in a "tea"
or infusion made with mugwort. Travelers would place the
leaves of mugwort in their shoes on their walking journeys.
Mugwort is hardy to Zone 3 and grow in most any soil, in any
location. It's very drought tolerant and adaptable to almost any
conditions. It's reputation for being invasive is deserved, BUT
if you grow it, harvest it before it goes to seed and keep an
eye on it, you should be okay. It's sort of a catch-22 with an
herb like mugwort. You can put it in the soil, and let it go on
its merry way, and it will grow without any attention to its needs,
but at the same time it will spread until something or someone
stops it.
You can grow it from seed or buy one (just one) plant to start
you on your way. The seeds need light to germinate, and will
need to be kept at 45 degrees or so for a couple of weeks in
order to encourage germination. The refrigerator will work for
this. Take them out after the chilling period and place them in
a bright, warm location until germination.
A Mugwort Poultice: mugwort is known for relieving the rash
from poison ivy or poison oak, and insect bites. Some brave
souls chew it up and form a poultice. Placing the leaves in a
bowl with a very small amount of water, and crushing it with a
wooden spoon or using a mortar and pestle will accomplish
this in much the same manner. Once the leaves are mushy,
place them on the area that is stinging and it will help relieve
the itching, and swelling if that has occurred.
Dream Pillows: Mugwort, hops, lavender, dried rose petals and
chamomile are a nice combination for dream pillows. Mix with
dry rice or flax seed and make a small flat "pillow" that can be
placed with in the pillowcase of a regular pillow. Or you can
combine the herbs with fiberfill and make a flat square using a
piece of cotton material and place this in the pillow. There are
many ways to do this. The main thing is to enclose the herbs
and be able to place them under the pillow while one sleeps.
Richters
Herbs carries mugwort seeds.
About the author:
Brenda Hyde is a wife and mom to three living in the Midwest
United States. She is also editor of OldFashionedLiving.com.
Seed Resources:
-Thompson&Morgan Seeds
-Nature Hills Nursery
-Park Seed
-Monticello Garden Shop
