Artemisia vulgaris, Mugwort
Artemisia vulgaris(not to be confused with Artemisia absinthium) is a wild perennial herb native to Europe and eastern Asia. Historically, Mugwort (Artemisia vulgaris) has been used as a medicinal and magical weed. Foragers find this aromatic plant has a sage-like flavor and therefore add it to soups, stews, stuffing, and various other recipes.
The young shoots of Mugwort can be found in middle spring and their flowers in late fall; though I have found the flowers are often quite small and barely noticeable, if any in some years.
In folklore, it is said that Mugwort's magical properties can intensify and enhance a person's dreams. Some herbalists still believe this, and some call it nonsense. Mugwort is sold abundantly online in the form of tightly-wrapped fresh or dried bundles (for burning), or loosely dried for use in potpourri or herbal sachets. A person can even find mugwort soap bars online that claim to invigorate circulation and relieve aching feet. Who knew?
The crown I made here is from last year's Mugwort found growing along Grable road. After using it for a photoshoot I hung it in my kitchen because of its wonderful woodsy-spice smell. I have done a bit more research on this plant for my own knowledge over the past couple of years, and if you are a lover of wild plants, edibles, and folklore like I am, this plant will have you yearning to talk about your findings with other like-minded individuals, which seems rare in this neck of the woods, unfortunately. But oh! if you are, you know already this plant has a long history of uses and an abundance of stories to tell!
DISCLAIMER-The content of this article is for educational purposes only. Before using or ingesting any wild herb or plant for edible or medicinal purposes, please consult a physician, medical herbalist, or other suitable professional for advice. Be overly cautious when foraging and don't eat anything in the wild you are unsure of, and never harvest more than half of a patch of any given plant.
Here are a few informational links, not affiliated with this blog or post, about Artemisia vulgaris:
