Silver wormwood (Artemisia argentea)
Care, watering, light and tips for Silver wormwood on Floravia.
Quick facts
- Family: Asteraceae
- Difficulty: Easy to care for
- Watering: every 7 days
- Light: Full sun
- Temperature: 0–35 °C
- Toxicity: Toxic to pets
About Silver wormwood
Artemisia argentea, also known as Madeira wormwood, is a perennial subshrub from the Asteraceae family, native to the island of Madeira. It stands out for its silvery, finely divided foliage, which gives it a soft texture and a distinctive visual appeal, ideal for rock gardens, sunny borders, or as an accent plant in pots.
Native range
Madeira, Canary and Cape Verde Islands
Care tips
It requires full sun to maintain its silvery color and compact growth. It is very drought tolerant once established, so watering should be moderate, allowing the substrate to dry out completely between waterings. It prefers well-drained soils, even poor or sandy ones; the main mistake to avoid is excessive moisture at the roots, which can lead to rot.
How to save a dying Silver wormwood
- Warning signs
- Yellow or brown, wilted leaves, soft stems. Can indicate overwatering or prolonged drought.
- First aid
- Check soil moisture. If too wet, remove plant and let roots dry. If dry, water deeply.
- What kills it
- Overwatering is the main enemy. Also lack of light or poor drainage.
- Can it be saved?
- Yes, if you act quickly. It's quite resilient. Remove damaged parts and adjust watering.