Botanical profile

Absinthe

Latin name
Wormwood
Common name
Absinthe
Type
Aromatic perennial
Family
Asteraceae

Wormwood is a perennial aromatic plant with silvery, finely cut foliage that brings a very distinctive texture to the garden. Its bushy habit, powerful fragrance, and bright gray-green color make it an excellent contrast plant in flowerbeds, herb gardens, rockeries, and dry landscapes. It pairs particularly well with flowering perennials, ornamental grasses, and dark-leaved plants, where it creates a light, natural, and very elegant visual effect.

Easy to grow, wormwood prefers full sun and well-drained soil, rather poor to moderately fertile. Once well established, it tolerates drought quite well and requires little maintenance, making it an excellent choice for gardens needing robust and durable plants. It can be grown in the ground or in pots, provided that excessive watering is avoided, especially in heavy or poorly drained soils. Light pruning helps maintain a more compact and well-branched plant.

Long recognized as a medicinal and aromatic plant, wormwood is also highly valued for its decorative foliage and intense fragrance, often used to deter certain insects in the garden. Its discreet, usually pale yellow flowers appear in summer and add a natural charm without overshadowing the foliage. Wormwood is an ideal plant to enrich an aromatic garden, a sunny border, or a country-style landscape with a silvery, rustic, and very textured touch.

Care guide

Care level
Easy

Choosing this plant

Main benefit
Highly aromatic silver foliage
Border, flowerbed, rock garden, herb garden, container gardening
Container growing
Good in a pot with a very draining substrate
Seasonal care
Prune after flowering to maintain a compact shape; avoid overly wet soils in winter
Growing conditions

Light, soil, water and hardiness

Hardiness zone
Zone 4
Exposure
Full sun
Watering
Moderate watering, allow the soil to dry out slightly between waterings
Humidity
Low to medium
Fertilization
Light compost in spring; avoid excessive fertilizer
Soil type
Poor to medium, dry and very well-drained soil
Soil pH
Neutral to alkaline
Minimum temperature
-30°C
Propagation method
Sowing, division, or cuttings
Plant appearance

Blooming, foliage and shape

Blooming period
Summer
Flower color
Pale yellow
Foliage color
Silver gray
Foliage type
Obsolete
Shape
Bushy and upright
Garden structure

Size and growth

Height
60 to 90 cm (24 to 36 inches)
Width
45 to 60 cm (18 to 24 inches)
Growth rate
Average
Vegetable garden and yield

Companion planting, spacing and harvest

Companion plants
Rosemary, lavender, sage, ornamental grasses
Plants to avoid
Plants sensitive to root competition
Spacing
45 to 60 cm (18 to 24 inches)
Not recommended for pets
Not recommended for pets

Pets

Repellent
Helps repel certain pests

Repellent

Deer
Less attractive or generally tolerated by deer

Deer

The availability of our plants varies depending on arrivals, seasons, nursery production and supplier availability. Some varieties may be offered for a limited time only, depending on their natural cycle or current stock. These plant profiles are designed to guide and inspire you when choosing plants for the garden, landscaping projects, containers or long-lasting outdoor arrangements.