In the garden culture of Europe, Artemisia came from monastic gardens in the middle ages. In medicine, these bitter herbs have been known since antiquity.
The most famous species of Artemisia
It is believed that the medicinal properties of Artemisia absinthium were first discovered by the ancient Greek goddess-hunter Artemis, in her honor, this plant received its name.
However, references to it were found in ancient Egyptian papyri long before the birth of Christ. The ancients believed that Artemisia absinthium could cure many diseases and ward off not only insects, but also evil spirits. Its medicinal properties were well known to residents of Central and southern Europe, North Africa and East Asia.
In Europe, the wine tincture on Artemisia absinthium and some other aromatic herbs: Thymus, Achillea, Melissa and Foeniculum was particularly respected. However, its name – vermouth-this medicinal potion was named after the main component – Artemisia, because in the German dialect it is called Artemisia absinthium. For centuries, vermouth has been used to stimulate the appetite and improve the activity of the digestive system.
Much later, at the end of the XIX century, in Western Europe and mainly in France, absinthe came into fashion, but its useful properties were very doubtful, and in large quantities it caused disorders of the nervous system, up to convulsions and hallucinations.
No less famous than Artemisia absinthium, Artemisia abrotanum. This semi-shrub is so widely distributed throughout the Northern hemisphere that scientists can not accurately determine its origin. Medicinal properties of Artemisia abrotanum have also long been used in folk medicine, but due to the fact that this Artemisia is less bitter, but more fragrant (with the smell of lemon), it has been widely used in cooking in many European countries.
It is well known that Artemisia abrotanum stimulates hair growth, which has long been appreciated by the stronger sex: young men grew a beard faster, which means that they were considered adult men, while older men used Artemisia abrotanum tincture to stop age-related hair loss.
There is another Artemisia that is widely known in Europe, Asia Minor, East Asia, and North America. Artemisia dracunculus has long been used in many countries as an aromatic and spicy-flavoring plant, as a seasoning in cooking and a fragrance in the manufacture of wines and vinegars. It also contains active biological components, but is almost not used for medical purposes.
Artemisia in nature and in the garden
The extensive genus Artemisia contains about 400 species, and belongs to the Compositae family. There are annuals among them, but most Artemisia are semi-shrubs and herbaceous perennials with a woody base. They are widely distributed throughout the Northern hemisphere, but are mainly confined to steppe and foothill areas, open Sunny places, sandy and stony soils.
It is this ability to grow on light, unproductive and anhydrous soils, under the scorching sun and piercing wind that has developed a kind of protective reaction in plants: the leaves, and often the stems (in herbaceous species) are densely pubescent and covered with tiny hairs, which is why the silvery coating is so valuable in decorative terms. Different species have it to varying degrees, but all Artemisia are characterized by bluish or gray shades. Breeders select specimens with the most pronounced pubescence or specially split leaves.
Over time, Artemisia moved to flower beds from monastery gardens and vegetable gardens, where they were grown on a par with other aromatic and spicy-flavored plants, and with the spread of fashion for natural gardens, interest in them has grown markedly. Today, no one is surprised by the presence of Artemisia in our decorative gardens. It is a pity that not everyone has been able to appreciate their excellent potential in garden design, because there are not so many plants with such amazingly silvery leaves.
Gray and silver shades are perfectly combined with all other colors, set them off and coordinate. They can soften too obvious and sharp contrast, create a delicate tone for pastel colors and give elegance to dark ones. Green will play in a new way against the gray background. Thanks to silver, you can give depth and lightness to dense plantings and heavy color combinations. Both warm and cold ones will appear in the same winning light next to them. If you add to these undoubted advantages the stunning texture of many garden Artemisia – the finest silver openwork-it becomes obvious that they simply do not have competitors.