(6 votes, average: 4.50 out of 5)
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Mugwort
Edible 
Autumn 
Spring 
Summer
A common plant of field edges, hedgerows, roadsides and waste ground that can be used as a herb, to make beer and to make medicinal tinctures, teas and essential oils.
Care should be taken when collecting this plant as the leaves can look similar to Monks Hood, see below.
| Hedgerow Type | |
| Common Names | Mugwort, Artemisia |
| Scientific Name | Artemisia vulgaris |
| Season Start | Apr |
| Season End | Oct |
Leaves
The leaves are green on top and silvery white and hairy underneath. They are pinnate and can vary from thin spear like leaves to wider examples, shown below.
Flowers
Small clusters of tiny red/brown flowers with obvious stigma and stamen appear from green sepal cases. There are many flowers on each limb and appear from early Summer to Autumn.
Flower Buds
Tiny green and white striped buds appear in late Spring and early Summer, small cluster of flowers will emerge from each.
Stem
Tall, erect, grooved and can be from green to purple, covered sparsely in tiny white hairs.
Habitat
Anywhere nitrogen rich like field edges, waste ground, roadsides and uncultivated areas.
Possible Confusion
Can look like the deadly poisonous Monks Hood, pictured, but the leaves on Mugwort have a silver/white hairy underside that Monks Hood lacks. When in flower, there should be no confusion between the two.
Taste
Herb like and pungent.
Frequency
Common.
Medicinal Uses
Has been used medicinally for many different purposes over the ages but rigorous scientific studies do not seem to have been carried out on this plant.
Other Facts
Has been used in the past to promote lucid dreaming by ingestion as a tea or smoking the dried leaves. This is thought to be because of the presence of thujone which is toxic but in the amounts present in the plant, is not thought to cause any harm.
2 comments for Mugwort
Hello, I’m from Germany, where mugwort was a common kitchen herb of old. In regards which part of the plant to use, I found the recommendation to use young leaves or the tips and flower buds in summer. It can be dried without losing much flavour. Later in the year it becomes bitter.
It is a slow release herb and needs longer cooking/baking time to release its aroma. It’s a traditional herb for the Christmas goose, which Germans have instead of a turkey. It’s said to help digest the amount of grease. As cooking fashions changed, mugwort fell out of use. Who knows, with slow-cooking / baking making its come back, maybe so does mugwort?
Heidi I hope this post finds you in good health. How would I go about gathering mugwort and preparing for a tea or whatever else I can use it for. Respectfully, Jim from New York