Steppe alsem (Artemisia ludoviciana) zaden

The silver wormwood is a large perennial from North America and is related to the common European wormwood. It is a rather striking sage brush, with its grey-green-silver-coloured feathered foliage and the strong aromatic scent, exuded by the entire plant, not only the leaves. The flowers, on the other hand, are rather inconspicuous.

Due to its essential oils, the white sagebrush is often used as an ingredient for incense blends. Many North American indigenous tribes have been known to appreciate its effect for ceremonies, and occasionally silver wormwood also appears as a remedy in folk medicine, although it can be a toxic if ingested in larger quantities.

In Mexico it is used in very small quantities as a medicinal plant and seasoning herb for meat dishes with a high fat content. It is well known under the name estafiate. In Europe, the large perennial is used almost exclusively as an ornamental plant for prairie gardens or Mediterranean style plant and rock arrangements.