Sweet Annie (Artemisia annua), otherwise known as sweet sagewort, sweet woodworm, annual mugwort, annual wormwood, and Chinese wormwood, is a deliciously fragrant dried flower you should know about. It is most commonly used in dried flower arrangements and wreaths, but also has some medicinal uses due to high levels of antioxidants and flavonoids. I had experience making decorated bird houses in Girl Scouts at our local Cedarbrook Herb Farm, and later growing and harvesting it when I worked there in college, and that aroma just stuck with me. For some reason, I had a really difficult time tracking it down at local nurseries to grow in my own garden until I finally realized I could just search and order seeds online. Sometimes I forget about all the modern miracles of the the web.
I ordered the seeds from an Etsy shop called Crows Nest Primitive that offered free shipping in a regular envelope, and they germinated very successfully in my glass window greenhouse. This plant is very aptly named. All throughout the summer, every time I would brush by the Sweet Annie on the walkway by the garden, the smell was a real treat.
I test-harvested two bundles already and the house smelled amazing while they were drying, so I am looking forward to harvesting and drying more in the next week. Not to mention all the crafty things I can make with it this winter.
For a little more reading, here’s a great article I came across: Annie, Sweet Annie
How interesting, wonder if it has a Norwegian name. I find I get so cross with all the nonsense on the web, and with peoples addiction to it, that I forget sometimes that it actually can be very useful if used the right way. Blessings, Pam in Norway. P.s. I do so love your greenhouse!
Thank you Pam! I finally had to look up the scientific name, and I bet you could find the Norwegian name that way. Blessings, Lara
It's "søtmalurt" in Norwegian. Sounds like a very interesting herb. Making a note of the name, in both languages :). Pam x
That's wonderful Pam. That means you can probably find it there and grow it. I definitely recommend it. My house smells so good right now while it's drying! 🙂