Since it has not rained for many days and we are therefore experiencing drought, this is when you appreciate the difference between species that are more demanding in water and those that resist this dry period. Artemisia is a genus of plants very resistant to drought. A plant of the Asteraceae family. At Sala Graupera nursery we have two species. Artemisia 'Powis Castle' and Artemisia schmidtiana 'Nana'. These are two completely different species as we will see below.
\*Artemisia \*\*\'Powis Castle'\ is a shrub resulting from the cross of two varieties of Artemisia, A. arborescens x A. absinthium.\* It has a compact habit, with evergreen leaves of grayish-silver color, very aromatic and divided into long linear segments. The flowers are yellow, grouped, in the form of buttons, in panicles, at the end of the stems and appear during the months of July and August.
Its habit is wider than tall, reaching when adult between 60 and 80 centimeters in height by 80 and 100 centimeters in width.
It is a species belonging to hardiness zone number 8, with an average minimum annual temperature range of -12.2 / -6.7°C. It is resistant to severe frosts.
Image of Artemisia \\'Powis Castle'. Source:ekps.tamu.edu
Its water needs are very low, especially once it is well rooted, being able to withstand long periods of drought. Artemisia 'Powis Castle' prefers to be located in full sun, but it is a species that tolerates partial shade, it is ideal for sustainable gardens or low maintenance requirements, since it only needs annual pruning to avoid aging. It also grows well in sunny coastal meadows, since it is a species resistant to salinity and sea breeze. It can be planted in shrub groupings or as an isolated specimen.
It tolerates shallow soils, poor in nutrients and organic matter. It requires well-drained soils. It can be placed in rock gardens and also on slopes.
Its ideal planting density is one to two plants per square meter.
\*Artemisia schmidtiana \*\*\'Nana' \\* comes from Japan. It is a creeping species with a very soft appearance that forms dense carpets with silver and finely toothed silky-looking leaves. It can have several uses in a sustainable garden; as a silver strip to underline the outline of a path, as a joint to the slabs of a passage, carpet through which to make bulbs and small perennials emerge, or even groundcover for small areas with little traffic.
The flowering of a yellow color, discreetly showy, takes place in summer; it is an interesting plant for its creeping habit that can reach 10/15 centimeters in height by 15/20 centimeters in width.
Schmidtiana 'Nana' belongs to hardiness zone number 8, with an average minimum annual temperature range equal to A. 'Powis Castle'.
Image of \*\*Artemisia schmidtiana 'Nana' Source: florensis.com
It is also a species with very low water needs. It prefers to be planted in full sun, but tolerates partial shade. It is resistant to salinity and sea breeze.
In this case it is even more demanding with drainage, since being creeping, and some of the stems being in contact with the ground, it does not tolerate waterlogging.
It is also an ideal species for rock garden areas of our garden. It tolerates shallow soils, poor in nutrients and organic matter.
Its recommended planting density is five to six plants per square meter.
Sala Graupera recommends these two Artemisia for areas where maintenance and irrigation are limited, in this way, these two species will bring out all their potential. These are two very suitable plants that we encourage you to try in your gardens.