Plant Details

Artemisia abrotanum

Southernwood

Back

Explore the size, hardiness, soil, light, edible uses and harvest period of Artemisia abrotanum.

Use this plant

Log in to add this plant to your recipes.

Log in

Common names

27 names · 20 languages
EnglishYour language
Other languages (19)
Dutch
  • Citroenkruid[2]
French
  • Armoise citronelle[2]
  • Aurone des jardins
  • Aurone mâle[2]
Chinese (Simplified)
  • 欧亚碱蒿[2]
Chinese (Traditional)
Czech
  • pelyněk brotan[2]
Danish
Estonian
  • sidrunpuju[2]
Finnish
  • aaprottimaruna[2]
German
Hungarian
Japanese
  • オキナヨモギ[2]
Lithuanian
  • Paprastasis diemedis[2]
Norwegian
Polish
  • bylica boże drzewko[2]
Russian
  • Полынь божье дерево[2]
  • Полынь высокая[2]
  • Полынь лечебная[2]
Slovak
  • palina abrotan[2]
Swedish
Ukrainian
  • Полин боже дерево[2]
Language not specified
  • lad's love[1]
Sources & name notes (2)

Names recorded in our plant catalogue and botanical sources, grouped by language. Usage can vary by region.

Numbered references identify names recorded by an external source. Other names are from our plant catalogue.

[1] Catalogue of Life 2026-08-20 — Artemisia abrotanum L. ↗

Common names from World Plants, version 26.05, reproduced in Catalogue of Life 2026-08-20. License: CC BY.

Source records
  • Eberraute (DE) — VernacularName.tsv, line 143421; taxon GVZ9.
  • Southernwood — VernacularName.tsv, line 143422; taxon GVZ9.
  • lad's love — VernacularName.tsv, line 143423; taxon GVZ9.
  • old man (EN) — VernacularName.tsv, line 143424; taxon GVZ9.
[2] Artemisia abrotanum — iNaturalist taxon names ↗

Community-curated iNaturalist taxonomy; common-name attestation, not an independent botanical determination.

Source records
  • Southernwood — results[0].names[1]; taxon id 143080; Artemisia abrotanum.
  • Lad's-love — results[0].names[2]; taxon id 143080; Artemisia abrotanum.
  • Aurone mâle — results[0].names[4]; taxon id 143080; Artemisia abrotanum.
  • Armoise citronelle — results[0].names[5]; taxon id 143080; Artemisia abrotanum.
  • pelyněk brotan — results[0].names[6]; taxon id 143080; Artemisia abrotanum.
  • sidrunpuju — results[0].names[7]; taxon id 143080; Artemisia abrotanum.
  • Полынь лечебная — results[0].names[8]; taxon id 143080; Artemisia abrotanum.
  • Полынь высокая — results[0].names[9]; taxon id 143080; Artemisia abrotanum.
  • abrodd — results[0].names[10]; taxon id 143080; Artemisia abrotanum.
  • aaprottimaruna — results[0].names[11]; taxon id 143080; Artemisia abrotanum.
  • Eberraute — results[0].names[12]; taxon id 143080; Artemisia abrotanum.
  • オキナヨモギ — results[0].names[13]; taxon id 143080; Artemisia abrotanum.
  • Paprastasis diemedis — results[0].names[14]; taxon id 143080; Artemisia abrotanum.
  • 欧亚碱蒿 — results[0].names[15]; taxon id 143080; Artemisia abrotanum.
  • åbrodd — results[0].names[16]; taxon id 143080; Artemisia abrotanum.
  • Citroenkruid — results[0].names[17]; taxon id 143080; Artemisia abrotanum.
  • 鹼蒿 — results[0].names[18]; taxon id 143080; Artemisia abrotanum.
  • Полынь божье дерево — results[0].names[19]; taxon id 143080; Artemisia abrotanum.
  • ambra — results[0].names[20]; taxon id 143080; Artemisia abrotanum.
  • istenfa — results[0].names[21]; taxon id 143080; Artemisia abrotanum.
  • Полин боже дерево — results[0].names[22]; taxon id 143080; Artemisia abrotanum.
  • bylica boże drzewko — results[0].names[23]; taxon id 143080; Artemisia abrotanum.
  • Cola-Kraut — results[0].names[24]; taxon id 143080; Artemisia abrotanum.
  • palina abrotan — results[0].names[25]; taxon id 143080; Artemisia abrotanum.

General information

Scientific name: Artemisia abrotanum
Accepted name (Kew): Artemisia abrotanum L. View name reference ↗

Accepted in the cited Kew taxonomic treatment.

Sources [1] [2]
Botanical family: Asteraceae

Kew's family placement for the genus Artemisia (WCVP v16).

Sources [1]
Also known as: Southernwood
Images: Google Images

Plant characteristics

Layer: Herbaceous
Catalogue size class: Small
Height: 0.61–1.22 m

NC State landscape size range; converted from feet and inches. Size varies with site, age and management.

Sources [3]
Spread: 0.61–0.91 m

NC State landscape size range; converted from feet and inches. Size varies with site, age and management.

Sources [3]
Growth rate: Moderate
Sources [3]
Foliage: None
Growth habit: Clumping, Erect

Whole-plant habit and form as described by NC State.

Sources [3]
Life cycle: Perennial
Sources [3]

Growing conditions

USDA hardiness: 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b

USDA zones listed by NC State; winter survival does not establish reliable cropping.

Sources [3]
Soil moisture:
Well-drained, Very Dry

Moisture and drainage conditions listed by NC State.

Sources [3]
Soil:
High Organic Matter, Loam (Silt), Sand, Shallow Rocky
Sources [3]
pH:
Acid (<6.0), Alkaline (>8.0), Neutral (6.0-8.0)
Sources [3]
Light:
Full sun
Sources [3]

Uses

Edible parts:
Condiment, Tea
Edibility rating:
(1)
Medicinal rating:
(3)
Functions:
Essential oil, Hedge, Dye, Repellent, Fragrant

Description

Young shoots have a bitter and lemon-like flavor. They are used in small quantities in pies, salads, and vinegar to add flavor. Additionally, tea can be made from these young and bitter shoots.

Harvest

Harvest starts: 01/08
Harvest ends: 30/09

Sources and references

References for the information marked with source numbers on this page.

Sources checked
  1. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew World Checklist of Vascular Plants, version 16, extracted 4 June 2026
    Supports: Botanical familyTaxonomy
    Relevant sections
    • Botanical family: WCVP v16, wcvp_names.csv row 555173; name ID 3133635; Artemisia L.. Family column.
    • Taxonomy: WCVP v16, wcvp_names.csv row 1429511; name ID 2922513; Artemisia abrotanum L..

    Source checked on .

    Source data licence: CC BY 3.0.

  2. Catalogue of Life Catalogue of Life 2026-08-20 — Artemisia abrotanum

    Taxonomic data from World Plants, version 26.05, reproduced in Catalogue of Life 2026-08-20.

    Supports: Taxonomy
    Relevant sections
    • Taxonomy: COL 2026-08-20, NameUsage.tsv line 4852943, ID GVZ9: Artemisia abrotanum L. (accepted).

    Source checked on .

  3. NC State Extension, North Carolina State University Artemisia abrotanum — Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox
    Supports: HeightSpreadGrowth rateGrowth habitLife cycleLightSoil moistureSoil textureSoil pHUSDA hardiness
    Relevant sections
    • Height: Dimensions > Height; Height: 2 ft. 0 in. - 4 ft. 0 in.
    • Spread: Dimensions > Width; Width: 2 ft. 0 in. - 3 ft. 0 in.
    • Growth rate: Growth Rate
    • Growth habit: Habit/Form
    • Life cycle: Life Cycle
    • Light: Light
    • Soil moisture: Soil Drainage
    • Soil texture: Soil Texture
    • Soil pH: Soil pH
    • USDA hardiness: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone

    Source checked on .