Western Mugwort 'Silver Queen'

'Silver Queen' is a vigorous, rhizomatous perennial that provides an exceptional wash of silver in the garden. Its leaves are broader and more jaggedly lobed than many other Artemisias, providing a bold texture. The entire plant is covered in a dense, white-woolly felt, giving it a brilliant luminence that shines particularly well in evening light. In the UK, it's a fantastic plant for a dry, sunny border where it can be used to knit together other Mediterranean species. It's important to note that it can be a little invasive in rich, moist soils, so it is often better placed in poorer, sharper soils where its spread is naturally constrained. The flowers are inconspicuous yellowish-grey panicles in late summer and are often removed to focus on the foliage. It's incredibly hardy and drought-tolerant. Pruning it back hard in mid-summer can help rejuvenate the foliage if it becomes leggy or tired. An excellent contrast plant for deep purples and oranges.

Sun: Full sun.

Soil: Well-drained, poor to moderately fertile soil.

Hardiness: H7 — below −20°C.

Flowering: Aug, Sep.