Artemisia

Grow artemisias for the magnificent silver foliage that complements nearly all other perennials and ties together diverse colors within the garden. They're nothing short of stunning next to white or blue flowers.

They thrive in hot, dry, sunny conditions such as a south-facing slope. A number spread rapidly to the point of being aggressive, so consider limiting yourself to varieties listed below that are well-behaved.

Light:

Sun

Zones:

3-9

Plant Type:

Perennial

Plant Height:

1-3 feet tall

Plant Width:

1-10 feet wide

Landscape Uses:

Containers,Beds & Borders,Slopes,Groundcover

Special Features:

Attractive Foliage,Drought Tolerant,Deer Resistant,Easy to Grow

Top Varieties

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'Powis Castle' artemisia

Artemisia 'Powis Castle' is a hybrid form that grows upright to 2-3 feet tall. Its finely divided foliage stays put, making it a welcome addition to the border and container plantings. Zones 7-9
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'Seafoam' Artemisia

Artemisia versicolor 'Seafoam' has frothy contorted silver foliage that works well as a groundcover around taller, drought-tolerant perennials. It grows 8 inches tall and is hardy in Zones 4-10.
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'Silver Brocade' artemisia

Artemisia stelleriana 'Silver Brocade' (also called A. stelleriana 'Boughton Silver') grows only 6-8 inches tall and spreads a foot or more wide. Its lobed woolly white leaves are ideal to soften the edge of a container or retaining wall. Zones 3-7
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'Silver King' artemisia

Artemisia ludoviciana 'Silver King' is a fast-spreading variety with bright silvery-white leaves that often turn reddish in autumn. Plant it on a slope in poor soil to prevent erosion. It grows 4 feet tall and is hardy in Zones 4-9.
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'Silver Mound' artemisia

Artemisia schmidtiana 'Silver Mound' forms a low mound of soft, fine-textured foliage to 1 foot tall that does not spread. Cut it back after its spring flush of growth to prevent the plant from flopping open midsummer. Zones 5-8
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'Valerie Finnis' artemisia

Artemisia ludoviciana 'Valerie Finnis' offers lance-shape silvery leaves on an upright plant that grows 2 feet tall. Zones 4-9
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Garden Plans

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Large Summer Sunny Border
Spring Rock Garden
Summer Rock Garden
Hot-Color, Hot-Weather Garden Plan
Long-Blooming Rock Garden Plan
Evening Garden
Waterside Retreat Garden Plan
Colorful Slope Garden Plan
Front Walk Garden Plan
Deer-Resistant Garden Plan

Plant It With

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Russian sage

The silvery foliage of Russian sage picks up on the fuzzy white leaves of artemisia. Add in its long season of purplish flowers and you've got a winning combination.

Salvia

The deep blue flowers of perennial salvia take on even more intensity when paired with the silvery hue of Artemisia.

Veronica

Both the pink and blue forms of spike speedwell look great with the silvery backdrop of artemisia. The upright spires contrast beautifully with spreading forms of artemisia.

Propagation

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Division