Plant · GBIF taxon 3120946
common mugwort
Artemisia vulgarisAlso known as Felon Herb, Wild Wormwood, Sailor's Tobacco, St. John's Plant
Common mugwort rises on stiff, reddish-purple stems clothed in deeply cut leaves with dark green upper surfaces and cottony, silver-white undersides. Crushing the foliage releases a pungent, herbal aroma driven by essential oils that deter many insect pests. Small, understated flower heads bloom in late summer, releasing vast quantities of wind-borne pollen into sunny fields and disturbed soils.
AromaticPerennialWind-Pollinated
—observations
—countries
—peak records
Least ConcernConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXLeast ConcernRed List categories, explained →
Diet & prey
- Autotrophic (photosynthesis)
Predators
- Mugwort Plume Moth
- Absinthe Wormwood Beetle
- Grasshoppers
ThreatsHerbicide spraying, aggressive mowing, agricultural clearing
HabitatsDisturbed soils, roadsides, waste places, pastures, riverbanks
Life spanPerennial (5–10+ years)
Size / weightNot available
Classification
- OrderAsterales
- FamilyAsteraceae
- GenusArtemisia
- SpeciesArtemisia vulgaris
Range data is not available yet.
Interaction riskLow
- Low
- Moderate
- High
- Very high
- Why interaction risk is low
- Pollen is a major late-summer allergen; sensitive individuals should avoid dense flowering stands.
- Why it is dangerous
- Produces abundant airborne pollen in late summer that triggers allergic rhinitis and asthma in sensitized individuals.
- How to recognize a risky encounter
- Recognize the tall reddish stems, deeply lobed leaves with silvery fleece beneath, and tiny yellow-brown flowers.
- What to do
- Observe from a distance during peak late-summer blooming to prevent inhalation of wind-borne pollen.
Responsible observation
- Leaf Scents: Gently rub a leaf to detect the characteristic camphoraceous aroma unique to mugwort species.
- Underside Check: Flip the foliage over to confirm the dense, white woolly hairs lining the lower leaf surface.
Co-occurring Allergen (c) Qwert1234, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA) · cc-by-sa
Close Relative (c) Matt Lavin, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA) · cc-by-sa
Close Relative (c) Matt Lavin, some rights reserved (CC BY) · cc-by
Close Relative (c) aarongunnar, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by aarongunnar · cc-by
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