Artemisia god tree(Artemisia abrotanum) is a herbal plant valued for centuries. Its homeland is central Asia, but it grows well in Poland, grown in gardens and allotments. Learn about the possibilities ofusing mugwort of the god treeand see where to plant it in the garden. We advisehow to grow artemisia Christmas treeand we reveal a simple way to reproduce this plant!
Artemisia abrotanum
Fig. depositphotos.com
Artemisia Christmas tree - description of its appearance
Artemisia Christmas tree is a short shrubreaching a height of 1.5 m, with blue-green, highly branched shoots and delicate feathery leaves. Its tiny yellowish flowers bloom in hanging baskets, forming clusters in clusters at the tips of the stems.Artemisia Christmas tree blooms from July to SeptemberThe whole plant has a characteristic, intense smell.
Artemisia Christmas tree - application
Artemisia Christmas tree is used primarily in medicine.
For medicinal purposeswe collect mugwort herb . It contains coumarins, an essential oil whose main ingredient is cineole, as well as flavonoids, tannins, phenolic acids and bitter compounds.
Artemisia abrotanum herb extractstimulates the production of bile, and the flavonoids contained in it relax the smooth muscles of the bile ducts, which facilitates the flow of bile to the duodenum.Bitterness, in turn, increases the secretion of gastric and pancreatic juices, thanks to which it facilitates digestion and assimilation of food, while strengthening the appetite.The herb of the tree is also anti-inflammatory and astringent.
Infusions and decoctions of mugwort herbare most often used in liver ailments and bile stagnation in the bladder and bile ducts, as well as in abdominal pain, lack of appetite during belching and mild diarrhea. Infusions used in the form of enemas destroy intestinal roundworms and pinworms in children.
Artemisia Christmas tree was used in homeopathy . The herb is part of homeopathic preparations used in inflammation of the colon, frostbite and rosacea.
Artemisia abrotanum
Fig. depositphotos.com
Thanks to the pleasant aromathe leaves of the Christmas tree were used in the kitchen . They are used as a seasoning for meats, sauces, cottage cheese, salads and mayonnaise. In addition, they are also used to flavor alcoholic beverages and confectionery.
Artemisia Christmas tree can also be used in the garden as an ornamental plant . Perfect for hedges of medium height. Its interesting color contrasts nicely with the background of dark-colored plants, such as baby plum or physalis.
Formerlymugwort christmas tree was used as an insect repellent . To this day, it is worth putting the herb under carpets, sidewalks or doormats, because in addition to deterring pests, it neutralizes unpleasant odors.
Artemisia Christmas tree - cultivation
Growing mugwort is not difficult . The plant requires sunny and warm positions, humus soil with a neutral pH. It is worth choosing a place sheltered from the wind for cultivation of mugwort.
Artemisia God tree winters well in our climate , but in the first years of cultivation, it is worth protecting it from frost by covering it with spruce twigs or making a mound of soil before the winter comes.Annuallow pruning of the lower, lignified parts of the plant promotes better branching
Artemisia abrotanum
Fig. © Herbi
When growing mugwort in the gardenit is worth remembering about regular irrigation and fertilization with fertilizers of natural origin, e.g. compost or biohumus fertilizer.
The herbal raw material is the herb of the mugwort of the god tree . One-year-old leafy tops of shoots are collected at the time when the inflorescences appear. The harvested material is dried in the shade at a temperature not exceeding 35 ° C.
Artemisia Christmas tree - reproduction
Artemisia Christmas tree is propagated from seeds, vegetatively by herbaceous or semi-woody cuttings or by dividing the roots. However, it is bestto reproduce the mugwort by dividing older plants or cuttings Propagation from seeds is troublesome and does not always produce the desired effect.
When breeding mugwort, Christmas treefrom herbaceous cuttings, take the cuttings at the end of June. However, when propagating it from semi-woody cuttings, it should be collected at the end of September. The seedling should be about 10 cm long.
Saplings of mugwortare planted in a substrate that maintains constant moisture but with a loose structure. Pots can be filled with peat and sand in a 1: 1 ratio. After planting, the seedlings are covered with perforated foil to maintain high humidity.
The temperature is decisive and it should not fall below 24 ° C when propagating from herbaceous cuttings and 18 ° C when propagating from woody cuttings.After rooting cuttings, they should be gradually hardenedthat is, get used to the conditions in the air and planted in larger pots or directly into the ground.
Propagation of mugwort by dividing the rootsshould be done in spring or autumn.This treatment rejuvenates perennial plants and makes them grow better. Before dividing, cut the shoots to a height of about 10 cm from the ground, dig out the root ball so as not to damage it and separate the roots of mugwort with a spade. Then we plant it in the garden in a designated permanent place.
MSc Eng. Joanna Białowąs
