Artemisia 'Silver Mound'

Artemisia 'Silver Mound': A Silver Cushion You'll Want to Pet

A dense, silky silver dome that begs to be petted, like a show poodle that moved into your flower bed. 'Silver Mound' is soft, aromatic and absurdly easy. GO AHEAD. TOUCH IT.

Plant Characteristics:

• Botanical Name: Artemisia schmidtiana 'Silver Mound' (also sold as 'Nana')
• Common Name: Silver Mound Wormwood
• Height: 25–30 cm (10–12 in)
• Spread: 30–45 cm (12–18 in)
• Flowers: Tiny, insignificant yellowish flower heads
• Bloom Time: Early to midsummer (June to July)
• Foliage: Finely divided, silky, silver-grey and aromatic, in a dense rounded mound
• Features: Rabbit resistant, soft texture

Where to Plant: Use it to edge a sunny border or path, in rock gardens and gravel beds, or as a soft silver accent in containers. Its fine texture contrasts nicely with bold leaves and bright flowers, and it cools down hot pinks and oranges in a busy bed.

Companion Plants: Edge a sunny, dry border with these soft silver mounds and let warm colours glow against them. Papaver 'Royal Wedding' opens white poppies with a black centre at 75 to 80 cm in May and June. Gaillardia 'Mesa Yellow' adds bright yellow daisies at 36 to 41 cm from July to September. Agastache 'Peachie Keen' brings apricot-peach spikes at 51 to 61 cm from July to September. Pennisetum alopecuroides arches behind at 75 to 100 cm with soft bottlebrush plumes from August to October.

Plant Care: Plant in full sun in well-drained, lean to average soil. It's happiest on the dry side and dislikes heavy, wet clay. In humid summers or rich soil, the mound can flop open in the middle by midsummer. The fix is simple: shear it back by about half just as the flower buds appear. It regrows quickly into a fresh, tight mound, and you skip the flowers, which you won't miss. Tidy the old growth in spring. Divide every few years in spring if the clump loses vigour.

History: Artemisia schmidtiana is native to Japan. Its compact form, sold as 'Nana' or 'Silver Mound', is a long-time garden favourite and holds the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit.

Final Thoughts: Plant it along a sunny path where everyone walks by. Deer and rabbits keep moving. THE MOST PETTED PLANT ON THE STREET.