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Mugwort

Artemisia vulgaris

Found in roadsides, pastures, fencerows, disturbed areas. FloraQuest, phone app (app page) What its natural habitat tells you

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Not native

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

Profile 76%

Height
2–4 feet
Spread
3–6 feet
Light
Full sun, Partial shade
Soil moisture
Dry to average

At a glance

Life cycle
Perennial
Bloom
July to November

Not yet recorded · Leaves

Recorded in 84 Virginia counties.

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.

All habitats

Also found with this plant

Wildlife whose habitat models include habitats this plant grows in, in Virginia. Shared habitat, not food. 118 animals.

All wildlife of Virginia

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
Asteraceae
Hardiness
Zones 3a–8b
Soil pH
Neutral
Flower color
Yellow, green or purple

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

Growing sources and scope
Also known as

Common Mugwort; Common Wormwood

Conservation status

Virginia rankSNA
Global rankGNR
VA statusNot verified
Federal statusNot verified

Conservation source Global and federal source

Native alternatives

Find natives for your garden

Sources