Artemisia annua

Sweet Wormwood, in Latin Artemisia annua, belongs to the Asteraceae family. It is an aromatic herb that is known as Qing Hao in Chinese pharmacies. It forms an erect clump that can reach a height of 2 to 3 metres (7 to 10 feet), with finely cut light green foliage. It can easily be confused with its cousins, Ambrosia artemisiifolia and Artemisia vulgaris, from which it is distinguished by its strong-smelling leaves. The flowering, from August to October, occurs in terminal clusters of cylindrical heads, 2 to 8 mm (0.4in) in diameter, yellow-green, briefly pedunculated. Tolerant to drought, Sweet Wormwood is cultivated in sunny, rich, light, and well-drained soil. Sow in trays from March to May, then transplant when the plant has 5-6 leaves into a pot and plant in the garden in May-June, when there is no longer a risk of frost and temperatures are rising. The seeds are not sterile and can self-seed.

Sweet Wormwood is an aromatic and medicinal plant. The leaves and flowering tops are consumed as herbal tea, and the leaves are used as powdered plant, as a dietary supplement.

Harvest: The leaves can be harvested in July-August from sufficiently large plants. It is preferable to prune a few branches (about a third of the plant) and let the plant continue to grow. This way, several harvests can be made before the Artemisia flowers and loses its leaves. Another way to proceed is to wait until the plant begins the flowering process, around the end of August. This is when the leaves contain the highest level of Artemisinin (the active molecule).

Storage: Once harvested, the leaves of Sweet Wormwood can be dried for preservation. The quality of the product will depend on the quality of the drying process. Regardless of the method, it should be done away from direct light (not in direct sunlight), at a temperature below 40°C (104°F). Place the leaves so that they do not overlap to ensure even drying. Dry until the leaves are completely crumbly.

Gardener's tip: To reduce  watering, we recommend mulching the soil with thin successive layers of grass clippings, if possible mixed with dead leaves, starting from June. This protection, which keeps the soil moist, also reduces weed growth.

Organic or 'AB' seeds come from plants grown without insecticides and herbicides. These seeds also do not undergo any post-harvest treatment. They carry the AB label and are certified by Ecocert, an independent organisation.