Silver Lining Wormwood

Silver Lining Wormwood (Artemisia x 'Silver Lining')

Silver Lining Wormwood is a silver, foliage-forward perennial that brightens sunny beds and makes nearby colors look cleaner. Its low, wide mound fills space quickly, helping borders look finished without relying on flowers. Once established, it handles heat and drier conditions well, making it a practical choice for lower-water landscapes. If you want a consistent silver layer that stays useful from spring through fall, this plant delivers.

Distinctive Features

This artemisia forms a dense, mounded groundcover with finely cut, fragrant, silver-gray foliage that reads like a soft blanket across the garden. The plant is grown primarily for its foliage, while any buff-yellow flowers are usually minor and appear on taller stalks in late summer to early fall. It holds its shape well through the season in full sun, especially in lean, well-drained soils. In hot, humid climates the foliage can decline, so siting for airflow and drainage is key.

Growing Conditions

• Sun: Full sun for best color and a tight, dense mound.
• Soil: Well-drained soil is essential, and it performs well in average to poor soils.
• Water: Low to medium moisture, water to establish, then let soil dry between waterings.
• USDA Zones: 4 to 9.
• Mature Size: About 12 to 16 inches tall and 32 to 36 inches wide.

Ideal Uses

• Focal Point: Use a broad drift as a focal point of silver texture that anchors brighter flowers and deeper greens.
• Edging: Line paths and bed fronts for a clean, low border that stays bright through summer.
• Groundcover: Plant in groups to knit into a dense mat that covers soil and reduces weeding.
• Rock Gardens: Tuck into sunny, well-drained pockets where silver foliage can highlight nearby plants.
• Hot, Dry Beds: Pair with drought-tolerant perennials and grasses for a low-input planting with strong contrast.

Low Maintenance Care

• Shearing: Shear lightly in midseason if needed to refresh growth and keep the mound crisp.
• Drainage: Avoid wet soils and heavy winter moisture, since poor drainage can cause decline.
• Watering: Water deeply during establishment, then water only during extended drought.
• Spacing: Provide airflow and avoid overcrowding to help foliage stay clean in humid weather.
• Cleanup: Tidy in early spring by removing winter-worn foliage before new growth starts.

Why Choose Silver Lining Wormwood?

• Bright Silver Foliage: Silver-gray, finely cut leaves add contrast that makes the whole planting look sharper.
• Wide, Tidy Habit: Forms a low, broad mound that fills space and looks intentional all season.
• Drought Tolerance: Performs well in drier conditions once established in well-drained soil.
• Low Flower Maintenance: Foliage stays the focus, with any flowers typically minor and easy to ignore.
• Deer Resistance: Often avoided by deer and rabbits due to aromatic foliage.

If you want a silver plant that works like a design tool, Silver Lining Wormwood is an easy choice. Give it full sun and sharp drainage, then let it spread into a consistent, bright layer that ties the border together. It looks best repeated, creating a continuous silver thread through the garden. With an occasional shear and the right siting, it stays dense, clean, and dependable year after year.