southernwood
Artemisia abrotanum L.
Southernwood, Artemisia abrotanum, is a woody member of the daisy family. Its erect stems branch repeatedly, supporting finely divided foliage. The horticultural flora records widespread cultivation as an ornamental and notes that the leaves can reach six centimetres long, with one to three orders of division. Kew POWO: Artemisia abrotanumRoyal Botanic Gardens Victoria HortFlora: Artemisia abrotanum
Botanical name
Artemisia abrotanum L. is accepted by Kew, matching the catalog’s exact species identity. Kew POWO: Artemisia abrotanum
Recognizing the plant
Its leaves are repeatedly divided into narrow, thread-like lobes, giving the branched plant a light, intricate outline. The Horticultural Flora of South-eastern Australia describes plants reaching about 1.3 metres, with leaf surfaces smoother above and hairy beneath. Its flowers are small yellow florets packed into tiny heads, themselves gathered in dense branching clusters. Individual flower heads are about four millimetres across. The bracts surrounding each head have thin, membranous margins, while the flower-bearing receptacle inside is hairless. Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria HortFlora: Artemisia abrotanum
Bloom window
South-eastern Australian horticultural account
The Horticultural Flora of South-eastern Australia records flowering in summer. Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria HortFlora: Artemisia abrotanum
Native range
Kew places southernwood’s native range from Spain to Italy and classifies it as a temperate shrub. The Horticultural Flora of South-eastern Australia documents its cultivation far beyond that Mediterranean range. Kew POWO: Artemisia abrotanumRoyal Botanic Gardens Victoria HortFlora: Artemisia abrotanum
Botanical sources
Reviewed 2026-10-11. Seasonal development varies with location and growing conditions.