Wormwood Growing Guide
Growing Wormwood is easier than you think. This guide walks you through everything you need — from planting your first seed to harvesting.
At a Glance
Difficulty
Easy
Category
Herb
Sun Exposure
Full Sun
Frost Tolerance
Frost Hardy
Cold Hardiness
Survives to -29°C
Plant Family
Asteraceae
Growing Season
Warm Season
Plant Lifecycle
Perennial
Also grows well as
How to Start It
★ Recommended for beginners
Root semi-ripe cuttings in summer in gritty mix — fast and reliable.
A silvery, intensely bitter aromatic grown as an ornamental and traditional insect-repellent. NOTE: wormwood is allelopathic — chemicals from its roots and fallen leaves can stunt nearby plants, so site it on its own, away from the veg patch.
When To Start
First Chance to Plant
—
Last Chance to Plant
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When should you plant Wormwood?
Your planting dates depend on your local climate. Sign up and add your location to unlock personalized dates.
Your Wormwood Planting Window
Start planting
May 15, 2026
Last chance
Sep 10, 2026
The Journey Ahead
Wormwood's Lifecycle
Seedling
Mature Plant
Seed Production
Step 1
Prepare Your Space
0.1 cm
Seeding Depth
60 cm
Plant Spacing
90 cm
Row Spacing
1
Plants / Sq Ft
Vertical Growing
No.
Succession Planting
No.
Good Companions
Bad Companions
Step 2
Planting & Sprouting
Expect sprouts in 14–21 days
Growing Tips
- 1Wormwood thrives in full sun and poor, dry soil.
- 2Give it its own spot away from vegetables (it inhibits neighbours), and cut it back hard in spring to keep the silver foliage dense.
Seedling Phase
Step 3
Growth & Maturity
100 cm
Mature Height
60 cm
Mature Width
Pests to Watch For
Diseases to Watch For
Mature Plant
Step 4
Harvesting
When to Pick
Cut foliage as needed for repellent use; site away from crops
How to Harvest
- 1Cut sprigs to dry for moth/insect repellent sachets.
- 2Keep clippings and fallen leaves out of garden beds and compost destined for crops, as they can suppress growth.
Step 5
Saving Seeds
How to Save Seeds
Shake the tiny seeds from the dried flower heads in autumn.
Seed Production
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