Common Name: |
Sweet Annie |
Other Names: |
Sweet Wormwood |
Botanical Name: |
Artemisia annua |
Genus: |
Artemisia |
Family: |
Asteraceae |
Native Location: |
SE Europe to Iran |
Cultivation: |
Well-drained, neutral to slightly alkaline soil in sun. Artemisia absinthium, A. a. 'Lambrook Silver', and A. lucoviciana tolerate drought. A. capillaris thrives in moist soil and tolerates light shade. Hardiness varies with species; cover marginally hardy plants with loose straw or overwinter plants under cover. In spring, cut back shrubby species near ground level, or remove dead stems and trim to shape. Rust may attack foliage. |
Propagation: |
By seed sown in spring (annuals, perennials, and A. d. subsp. dracunculoides); by semi-ripe cuttings with a heel in summer (shrubby species); by division in autumn or spring (perennials). |
Harvest: |
By seed sown in spring (annuals, perennials, and A. d. subsp. dracunculoides); by semi-ripe cuttings with a heel in summer (shrubby species); by division in autumn or spring (perennials). |
Height: |
1.5m (5ft) |
:Width |
1-1.5m (3-5ft) |
Hardiness: |
Hardy |
Parts Used: |
Whole plants (qing hao) |
Properties: |
An aromatic, anti-bacterial herb that destroys malarial parasites, lowers fevers, and checks bleeding. |
Medicinal Uses: |
Internally in Chinese medicine for feverish illnesses, notably malaria and heat stroke. Externally for nosebleeds, bleeding rashes, and sores. Synthetics, artefelene and artemether, have been developed from A. annua for use in the treatment of drug-resistant strains of malaria, notably Plasmodium falciparum. |
Warning: |
Artemisias, and extracts from them, such as cineole and santonin, are subject to legal restrictions in some countries. |
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Bibliography: |
Encylopedia of Herbs by Deni Brown Copyright ©: 1995, 2001 Dorling Kindersley Limited pp 130-132
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