Artemisia absinthium.

Few plants have such an eventful history. The liqueur that bears its name, the green fairy of Belle Époque Parisian cafés, was banned in France, Switzerland and the United States from 1915 on, accused of driving people mad because of a molecule it contains, thujone. It took until the 1990s and 2000s for modern analysis to show that the real doses were far lower than believed, and for legalization to return more or less everywhere. The genus name goes back much further: Artemisia, for Artemis, Greek goddess of the hunt and of women.

Wormwood is a perennial herbaceous plant belonging to the Asteraceae family. It is native to Europe, Asia and parts of North Africa. It has a distinctive greyish-green look with deeply lobed leaves covered in fine hairs. This herb is known for its bitter taste and powerful aroma.

It has been used for centuries in traditional medicine and as a key ingredient in the production of the famous alcoholic beverage absinthe. It's also known for its historic association with herbal remedies for digestive disorders and as a natural insect repellent. In the garden, its finely cut silver foliage also makes it a first-rate ornamental, superb in a grey border alongside lavender and sage.

Grower's tip, and this one matters: wormwood is allelopathic. Its roots and leaves release compounds that inhibit the germination and growth of neighbouring plants, a highly effective competition mechanism. So it must absolutely not be planted in the middle of a vegetable garden: it will harm the vegetables around it, sometimes over a good metre. Give it a corner of its own, along an edge, in an ornamental bed or in a pot. For sowing: very fine seeds laid on the surface without covering, germination in 10 to 21 days, indoor start 8 to 10 weeks before planting out. Poor, dry soil — it hates richness and standing moisture. Count on two years for it to reach full size.

Note: internal use of wormwood requires caution and professional advice.

• Open-pollinated. Hardy perennial. Insect-pollinated.
• Grows to ~90 cm (3') in ~2 years.
• Allelopathic: plant away from the vegetable garden, it inhibits neighbouring plants.
• Exposure: full sun.
• Poor, dry, well-drained soil. Hates standing moisture. Space 60 cm apart.
• Sow on the surface without covering. Start indoors 8 to 10 weeks before planting out.