My grandma let me take some cuttings from her garden yesterday. I took some plants that I thought looked interesting. She had no idea what they were and I don't have a clue either. Can anyone please tell me what this plant is? Thanks so much in advance!

Kinda looks like mugwort... What does it smell like?

stone said: Kinda looks like mugwort... What does it smell like?

It could be, but I'm still not sure. It has a very faint, somewhat unpleasant smell, similar to yarrow, but not quite as strong. I think mugwort leaves look wider. Here is some wormwood (closely related to mugwort) I've been growing for comparison. It has a much sweeter smell, much like sagebrush and licorice.

Can you go back and take pics of the plant in the ground?

Your wormwood looks like the wild buttercup around here... I'm used to seeing much more delicate ferny leaves on the artemisia... think fennel...

So... are you planning to mix your own absinthe?

stone said: Can you go back and take pics of the plant in the ground?

Your wormwood looks like the wild buttercup around here... I'm used to seeing much more delicate ferny leaves on the artemisia... think fennel...

So... are you planning to mix your own absinthe?

I'd have to go back to my Grandma's to take a picture of the entire plant (she lives a half hour drive away). I did however take a second cutting of that same plant. Here is a close up.

I have definitely been considering making my own absinthe, which might be fun, that is if I get a good enough harvest from that wormwood, but I have no experience in distilling spirits. I have been thinking of buying an electric still, but I will probably just end up making some medicinal tea and/or tincture from that herb.

I'm not seeing an artemisia in that second photo.

BTW cdana, many species of artemisia are commonly (erroneously, imo) referred to as "wormword" but the species used to make absinthe is A. absinthium.

I've never started any from seed, only cuttings, but mine sure looks different from your seedlings. Was the species noted on the seed packet?

I'm not certain enough to make a definitive call, but it sure reminds me more of an Achillea. This one is Achillea "Moonshine" and maybe too big, but....?

NMoasis said: I'm not seeing an artemisia in that second photo.

BTW cdana, many species of artemisia are commonly (erroneously, imo) referred to as "wormword" but the species used to make absinthe is A. absinthium.

I've never started any from seed, only cuttings, but mine sure looks different from your seedlings. Was the species noted on the seed packet?

It says "Wormwood (Artemisia absinthium)" on the package.

These are the exact seeds I used. I think the seedlings look different from more mature plants, as with many other types of plants. They definitely have that signature absinthe like smell that everyone talks about (much like sage and other aromatic herbs). These seedlings are probably about 2 months old.

Okay! Just wanted to check. They are cute little seedlings.

NMoasis said: I'm not certain enough to make a definitive call, but it sure reminds me more of an Achillea. This one is Achillea "Moonshine" and maybe too big, but....?

It definitely reminds me of it too, it has a very similar leaf pattern, but I don't think it's the same plant. I actually found some Achillea (Common Yarrow) on my walk yesterday. Here is the picture. Yarrow was actually one of the first plants I learned to identify when I was just a little kid and this cutting is just not the same to what I have been used to seeing my whole life. I wonder if there is another similar plant, possibly related to Achillea that might be what it is? Hmm...

cdana said: I'd have to go back to my Grandma's to take a picture of the entire plant (she lives a half hour drive away). I did however take a second cutting of that same plant. Here is a close up.

I have definitely been considering making my own absinthe, which might be fun, that is if I get a good enough harvest from that wormwood, but I have no experience in distilling spirits. I have been thinking of buying an electric still, but I will probably just end up making some medicinal tea and/or tincture from that herb.

Looks like yarrow to me too...

I think you can make absinthe from alcohol that is already made... I think they just add the herbs to the stuff after distillation...

https://www.originalabsinthe.c...
To make absinthe, the anise, fennel, hyssop, and wormwood seep in alcohol, and then the mixture is distilled in an alcoholic base.

Ok, you've got to distill it a second time....

There's more than one way to skin a cat... as they say... One way that I always wanted to try... solar distillation... I was bothered by the likelihood of picking up bad stuff from the plastic though...

Another way... take the wine or whatever... place in freezer... the bad stuff freezes... the alcohol stays liquid... Pour the good stuff off the yucky frozen stuff.

I never had a freezer back in my drinking days.... And... It isn't cold enough here to put the stuff outside and let mother nature do the work.... Got a freezer now, but don't drink...

Somebody in this area had a still in a storage container... using propane... Something went wrong...
https://www.13wmaz.com/article...

Remember when they put their stills out in the woods? Built a tiny campfire under the still?

Probably not a good idea to use propane...

stone said: Looks like yarrow to me too...

I think you can make absinthe from alcohol that is already made... I think they just add the herbs to the stuff after distillation...

Ok, you've got to distill it a second time....

There's more than one way to skin a cat... as they say... One way that I always wanted to try... solar distillation... I was bothered by the likelihood of picking up bad stuff from the plastic though...

Another way... take the wine or whatever... place in freezer... the bad stuff freezes... the alcohol stays liquid... Pour the good stuff off the yucky frozen stuff.

I never had a freezer back in my drinking days.... And... It isn't cold enough here to put the stuff outside and let mother nature do the work.... Got a freezer now, but don't drink...

Somebody in this area had a still in a storage container... using propane... Something went wrong...
https://www.13wmaz.com/article...

Remember when they put their stills out in the woods? Built a tiny campfire under the still?

Probably not a good idea to use propane...

I suppose it could possibly be yarrow, perhaps a type of ornamental variety I'm not used to dealing with. Guess the only way to know for certain is to let it grow...

And I'm really not a huge drinker either, but I do find home brewing a lot of fun! Especially beer and wine. I think distillation will be that next step I would like to take. Solar distillation sounds interesting, it tends to get pretty hot here in the summer so I might have to look into that.

I don't really know what it is, but between yarrow and tansy, I'd say it is tansy. Tansy leaves are less dissected, darker green and more glossy than yarrow. Tansy smells, too.

Leftwood said: I don't really know what it is, but between yarrow and tansy, I'd say it is tansy. Tansy leaves are less dissected, darker green and more glossy than yarrow. Tansy smells, too.

Tansy...I was actually wondering about tansy, that makes a lot of sense. It's not a plant I know really well, but it definitely looks like it and it does grow here too. I think your answer is the most likely so far in my opinion. Thank you!

cdana said: My grandma let me take some cuttings from her garden yesterday. I took some plants that I thought looked interesting. She had no idea what they were and I don't have a clue either. Can anyone please tell me what this plant is? Thanks so much in advance!

Update:
Today I got a chance to go back and take a picture of the original plant I got these cuttings from. Perhaps this will make it easier for someone to hopefully make a more positive identification.

Cota tinctoria/Golden Marguerite?

janinilulu said: Cota tinctoria/Golden Marguerite?

I think you pegged it! When I just had the cuttings, I actually was comparing them to images of Cota tinctoria. I thought it could have been that but I wasn't sure. But the more I compare the full sized plant to those images, the more I think it's an exact match! I think it now may very well be identified. Thank you so much!