Southernwood

Artemisia abrotanum

Found in disturbed areas, waif from horticultural use. Weakley, Flora of the Southeastern United States (2025), Northern Tier edition What its natural habitat tells you

—

Not native

Not native to Virginia. How scores work Is it native here?

Profile 18%

No photograph yet. Looking for an old drawing…

At a glance

Not yet recorded · Height · Spread · Light · Soil · Life cycle · Leaves · Bloom

This plant is missing most of its facts, so Quercus is looking them up in old botany books.

Recorded in 1 Virginia county.

Natural habitats

Places it grows wild. Not a planting requirement. Each habitat page lists the plants and wildlife also found there.

Roadsides, fields and disturbed ground

Ground opened by people: roadsides, old fields, pastures, fencerows and lots.

Ecological relationships

Who uses this plant?

What these records mean

10CaterpillarsGenus host records with ranges including VA

Genus host records with ranges including VA · Artemisia

Anarta trifoliiThe Nutmeg, Clover Cutworm
Apantesis naisNais Tiger Moth
Dichomeris juncidellaOrange-Dotted Dichomeris
Estigmene acreaSalt Marsh Moth, Acrea Moth
Spaelotis clandestinaClandestine Dart, W-Marked Cutworm
Synchlora aerataWavy-Lined Emerald, Camouflaged Looper
Vanessa carduiPainted Lady, Cosmopolite
Vanessa virginiensisAmerican Lady, American Painted Lady
Epiblema mandana
Platphalonidia felix

Shropshire & Tallamy 2025, Lepidoptera of North America north of Mexico, ZooKeys 1261 (ODbL)

—BeesSoutheastern regional records

—Specialist beesPollen specialists

4BirdsRecorded genus food-resource interactions; not a state feeding claim

Recorded genus food-resource interactions; not a state feeding claim · Artemisia

Alectoris chukarChukar
Centrocercus urophasianusGreater Sage-Grouse
Meleagris gallopavoWild Turkey
Perdix perdixGray Partridge

Hurlbert, Olsen, Sawyer & Winner 2021, Avian Diet Database, Scientific Data 8: 260 (CC0)

Direct food only: birds recorded eating this genus across North America. Caterpillars on host plants also feed nesting birds. NC Native Plant Society: butterfly gardening

Growing and identification

Plant details

Family: Family not recorded

Safety has not been reviewed for this plant; check toxicity and thorns before planting.

Conservation status

Virginia rank	Not available
Global rank	GNR
VA status	Not verified
Federal status	Not verified

Conservation source Global and federal source

Native alternatives

Find natives for your garden

Sources