Try for Free
tab list
PictureThis
English
arrow
English
繁體中文
日本語
Español
Français
Deutsch
Pусский
Português
Italiano
PictureThis
Search
Search Plants
Try for Free
Global
English
English
繁體中文
日本語
Español
Français
Deutsch
Pусский
Português
Italiano
This page looks better in the app
picturethis icon
Instantly identify plants with a snap
Snap a photo for instant plant ID, gaining quick insights on disease prevention, treatment, toxicity, care, uses, and symbolism, etc.
Download the App for Free
Continue Reading
Southernwood

How to identify Southernwood (Artemisia abrotanum)

Southernwood, also known as Old-man wormwood, Tangerine southernwood

Southernwood boasts a woody base leading to an abundant array of finely divided, aromatic leaves, resembling a feathery texture. This perennial typically stretches upwards between 2-4 feet (60-120 cm) in height. The foliage presents a striking silvery-grey hue, which can be a diagnostic feature when identifying the plant. During late summer, tiny yellowish flowers emerge in loose, inconspicuous panicles, often overlooked for the plant’s notable scented leaves.

Lifespan

Lifespan: Perennial

Plant Type

Plant Type: Shrub

Leaf Type

Leaf Type: Deciduous

Quickly Identify Southernwood

1

Silvery-grey foliage distinguishes southernwood from other plants.

2

Small, drooping greenish-yellow flowers bloom in late summer.

3

Finely divided, aromatic leaves with linear lobes offer a feathery texture.

SouthernwoodSouthernwood

Detailed Traits of Southernwood

Leaf Features

The leaves of southernwood are small, feathery, and intricately divided into linear or filiform lobes, giving them a delicate appearance. They alternate along the stem and are green or gray-green in color. The surface of the leaves is mostly smooth, though it can be sparsely hairy. Each lobe is finely divided, contributing to the soft texture and fine detail of the leaf structure, ideal for identification.

Learn About the Leaf Glossary
Group
Flower Features

The flowers of southernwood are small and inconspicuous, typically drooping in form, with a greenish-yellow or whitish-yellow hue. Each flower measures approximately 0.2 inches (5 mm) in diameter. They have a delicate arrangement with petals that are not visibly prominent, contributing to their subtle appearance. The bloom period for these flowers primarily spans late summer to early fall. Despite their modest size, they are essential for pollinators and play a crucial role in the plant's reproductive cycle.

Learn About the Flower Glossary
Group
Icon code

Scan QR code to download

More Plants You May Like and How to Identify Them
Img topic
Cape jasmine

Gardenia jasminoides is an evergreen shrub with unique, glossy evergreen leaves and stunning flowers. The sophisticated, matte white flowers are often used in bouquets. The exceptional beauty of this ornamental plant has made it a popular and highly appreciated plant amongst gardeners and horticulturalists.

Img topic
Golden pothos

The golden pothos (Epipremnum aureum) is a popular houseplant that is commonly seen in Australia, Asia, and the West Indies. It goes by many nicknames, including "devil's ivy", because it is so hard to kill and can even grow in low light conditions. Golden pothos has poisonous sap, so it should be kept away from pets and children.

Img topic
Tomato

Solanum lycopersicum is an annual or perennial herbaceous vine native to Central and South America that produces a large, juicy, edible fruit known as tomato. Today there are over 10000 cultivated varieties. Although tomato is the world’s most popular vegetable, botanically it is a fruit.

Img topic
Pepper

The pepper are commonly used for cooking in places such as the Southern U.S. and Central America. Most are moderately spicy, though because there are so many variants, the spice level can vary dramatically. Cayenne powder is also a popular seasoning product made from pepper plants.

Img topic
Swiss cheese plant

The swiss cheese plant (Monstera deliciosa) produces bright, glossy leaves and makes a popular houseplant. It is originally native to tropical forest regions in Central America. The nickname swiss cheese plant refers to the small holes that develop in the plant's leaves. The long fruits resemble corncobs and smell sweet and fragrant when ripe.

Img topic
Bigleaf hydrangea

The bigleaf hydrangea is a deciduous shrub native to Japan, and is known for its lush, oval, colorful inflorescence. The two types of Hydrangea macrophylla are mopheads - with large, ball-shaped, sterile flower clusters, and lace capes - with small round fertile flowers in the center, and sterile flowers on the outer side of each inflorescence. Depending on soil pH, blooms can change color from pink to blue.

Southernwood and Their Similar Plants

Img topic
Common mugwort vs. Southernwood: What's The Difference?
Common mugwort (Artemisia vulgaris) is an herbaceous plant often found in nitrogen-rich soils. The plant's scent is reportedly a mild insect repellant. Common mugwort is used as an offering in Nepalese temples. Tradition holds that it has cleansing properties, so believers also use it to sweep their floors to give them both a spiritual and physical cleaning.
Read More
Arrow
Img topic
Common wormwood vs. Southernwood: What's The Difference?
Common wormwood (Artemisia absinthium) was the main ingredient in absinthe, a distilled, highly alcoholic beverage, BUT it's technically toxic. It can cause nervous disorders such as headaches, hallucinations, insomnia, convulsions, etc. and is therefore illegal in many countries. Common wormwood may grow like a weed on unmanaged areas, with silvery foliage and small yellow flowers in late summer.
Read More
Arrow
Img topic
White sagebrush vs. Southernwood: What's The Difference?
White sagebrush (*Artemisia ludoviciana*) is a plant native to the United States. The genus name "*Artemisia*" refers to Artemis, a Greek goddess that the Romans called Diana. She was the Moon Goddess and patron deity of hunters. The species name "*ludoviciana*" refers to the state of Louisiana. This plant is also called "Mugwort" and "Cudweed."
Read More
Arrow
Img topic
Tarragon vs. Southernwood: What's The Difference?
Tarragon (Artemisia dracunculus) is a herb found widely across the Eurasian and North American continents. Tarragon has hints of anise in its fragrance. It is most well known as a culinary herb, especially in French cuisine. It is also used as a popular soda flavoring in eastern Asia. Curiously, the French cultivar with the strongest flavor is sterile, making it much harder to propagate than the other popular variants.
Read More
Arrow
Img topic
California sagebrush vs. Southernwood: What's The Difference?
California sagebrush is an evergreen perennial shrub that thrives in poor, well-draining soils. Grown for its silvery foliage, it can grow up to 91 cm tall and prefers higher, drier elevations. Flowers appear yellowish to red.
Read More
Arrow
Img topic
Tree wormwood vs. Southernwood: What's The Difference?
Tree wormwood (Artemisia arborescens) is a flowering evergreen perennial that is native to the Mediterranean. In late spring it produces yellow, daisy-like flowers. Tree wormwood has been cultivated for its use in essential oils and perfumes and it has earned the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit.
Read More
Arrow
Img topic
Hoary mugwort vs. Southernwood: What's The Difference?
The Artemisia stelleriana can largely be found in China, Japan, Korea and Russia. It has pale-green to white leaves that give the plant a silver or whitish appearance. That's why it's also known as the hoary mugwort. This herbaceous perennial plant is harvested from the wild to flavor rice.
Read More
Arrow
Img topic
White sagebrush 'Valerie Finnis' vs. Southernwood: What's The Difference?
White sagebrush 'Valerie Finnis' is a popular cultivar of the White sage (Artemisia ludoviciana) selected to have sharply cut silvery-gray leaves. The cultivar was named in the honor of Valerie Finnis, a British photographer and gardener. It has gained the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit.
Read More
Arrow
Identify Southernwood easily and quickly
We're also capable of identifying over 12,000 types of plants, flowers, succulents, and trees in your surroundings.
Identify a Plant Online

Key Facts About Southernwood

Attributes of Southernwood
Lifespan
Perennial
Plant Type
Shrub
Plant Height
91 cm to 1.2 m
Spread
60 cm to 90 cm
Stem Color
Green
Gray
Silver
Yellow
Leaf type
Deciduous
Identify plants with a snap
Instantly identify plants with AI: Snap a photo, and get accurate results within seconds.
Download the App for Free

Scientific Classification of Southernwood

Family
Daisy
Icon allow
Species
Southernwood (Artemisia abrotanum)
Learn More About the Southernwood
close
close
Your Ultimate Guide to Plants
Identify grow and nurture the better way!
product icon
17,000 local species +400,000 global species studied
product icon
Nearly 5 years of research
product icon
80+ scholars in botany and gardening
ad
ad
Botanist in your pocket
qrcode
PictureThis Ios DownloadPictureThis Android Download
Scan the QR code with your phone camera to download the app