- The wormwood ranges in height from 6 to 48 inches and in width from 12 to 48 inches, depending on the species. Wormwood is a fast-growing perennial with small, finely divided leaves that smell like sage when bruised. Its flowers are dioecious, which means that the female and male flowers are on separate plants. Blooms are yellow or white and form in early to mid-summer.
- Absinth wormwood prefers moist, but not wet soil and will tolerate poorer conditions. Depending on species, it grows well in USDA hardiness zones 3 to 5 and 8 to 9. Wormwood does well in direct sunlight. This shrub is often used in rock gardens, as a border and in herb gardens. A prolific seed producer, wormwood easily becomes invasive and is found in the wild on rangeland, roadsides, overgrazed pastures and wastelands.
- Absinth wormwood is primarily harvested for tea and is an ingredient in absinthe and vermouth. The flowers, leaves and extracted oils of the wormwood are used for medicinal purposes. Roman soldiers used it to relieve tired feet by placing it in their sandals, according to George Mason University. It was also used to improve digestion by chewing the leaves to promote the production of stomach bile and acid. Wormwood is also used to treat intestinal worms.
- Wormwood contains the chemical thujone, which can cause nerve damage resulting in paralysis, numbness or loss of intellectual capacity. According to George Mason University, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration listed wormwood as unsafe in 1975. Other side effects of wormwood include seizures, making it dangerous for people suffering from epilepsy. As with all herbal preparations, consult with a health professional or doctor before starting any type of herbal regime.
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