Southernwood, Artemisia abrotanum, is a hardy, easy to grow herb
with many uses that makes it worth growing in your garden. Its
feathery foliage is pretty in the flower bed or the herb garden. It
grows to about 4 foot tall and 18 inches wide. The foliage is the
ornamental feature of southernwood, as is the lemon-like aroma.
In the garden, southernwood is a good companion to cabbage because
it helps to keep away the cabbage worm. It's attractive to bees, birds
and butterflies too. It's hardy to Zone 4, and is happy in dry soil and
full sun. Southernwood is drought tolerant and can grow in very poor
soil. It's a woody perennial that grows each spring from its thick stems
--wait until you can see new growth and then prune any dead parts. In
cold climates it starts to green again in the early spring and flowers
in the fall. Once southernwood is established feel free to cut it back
by half in the spring if you want to keep it neater. Flowering isn't
necessary because it's the foliage that's harvested and dried.
When buying southernwood as a plant be sure to crush and sniff a leaf
if you want the traditional variety that smells lemon-like. Some of the
newer varieties have a camphor smell instead and it's fairly intense.
Harvest southernwood in August and September. Dry in bunches for
later use. Richter's Herbs carries several varieties of Southernwood.
Southernwood has an odd assortment of past uses. It was named Lad's
love, Old man, Old man's love and Maidens ruin at various times. It was
used in bouquets by young women and probably in tussie mussies as
well. It was also given by young men to their ladies. Most interesting,
is that it was also used in the courtrooms to ward off diseases that the
prisoners may have been carrying. Jails often used it in the same way.
For some reason, perhaps because of its fresh aroma, in early times
it was thought to prevent the spread of fever and disease.
Southernwood also has many pleasant uses including the practice of
laying clean clothing on the plant to dry after washing so it would
take on the aroma of the foliage. It has been widely thought of as
a pest repellent, mostly moths and flies. Bundles can be hung in
closets or placed in drawers. They can also hang in the kitchen to
repel flies. Many people use southernwood with a combination
of herbs to make drawer sachets. The following is an easy recipe
to try:
You'll need:
1 cup dried southernwood
1 cup dried rosemary
1 cup dried lavender
Combine the herbs in a bowl to mix. Place the mixture in small
muslin or cotton bags, tie and place in clothing drawers or chests.
Another combination has a few more ingredients but is used the
same:
1 cup cedar shavings
1/4 cup each southernwood, peppermint, thyme and rosemary
1/8 cup each whole cloves and lemon peel
Another method is to place sprigs of rosemary, southernwood
and lavender between sheets of tissue paper or muslin in your
drawers or closets.
Southernwood also makes a wonderful addition to decorative baskets
of herbs or herbal wreaths. It combines well with rosehip still on the
stem, rosemary, lavender, woodruff, chamomile, oregano flowers or
violets.
Lastly, southernwood can be used in a mixture for bath tea:
You'll need:
3 tbsp. rosemary
1 tsp.. southernwood
3 tbsp. dried calendula petals
Mix together in a glass jar. Use half for one bath. Mix half
the contents with one quart of boiling water. Allow it to
infuse for 15-20 minutes, strain and add to your bath water.
About the author:
Brenda Hyde is a wife and mom to three living in the Midwest
United States. She is also editor of OldFashionedLiving.com.
