I have consistently had problems keeping artemisias alive. Some do well for a season or two then simply disappear, others don't overwinter, and still others just struggle along not dying but not doing real good. I suspect they want a more alkaline soil than I have. I have never actually tested my soil but based on the natives (cedar, fir, spruce) I believe I have a fairly acidic soil. The exact same plants (we exchange) typically thrive for my sister who lives in eastern Washington on a river and we assume she has a much more alkaline soil than I do. She also gets a hotter but shorter growing season, which may come into play as well.
The plants I have tried and failed include: Silver Mound, absinthium, various tarragons, mugwort, Powis Castle, Oriental Limelight.
Sweet Annie (annual) grows well for me and reseeds reliably. Southernwood (more shrubby) has been quasi-successful - I've had one for several years, but it gets kind of scrappy looking and needs a lot of remedial pruning (sometimes one whole side will fail while the other thrives).
It appears my white mugwort (Guizhou) has not over-wintered and I plan to replace that because it is so pretty. I am also planning to try another absinthium - perhaps Lambrook Silver which I think may not be as rangy. I may treat tarragon as an annual, because I do like it in my culinary section.
Has anyone else in the PNW had similar problems with artemisias in general, or should I look more closely at my micro-climate to figure out what it is they don't like? For the most part, they have been planted in full sun, good soil, probably more on the dampish side than quick draining but not mucky. I mulch with a cedargrove type mix every year after spring cleanup and usually with shredded leaves after fall cleanup.
So, looking for advice on how to best grow artemisias, and/or reports of what specific cultivars have worked for others in a similar environment. Thanks much.
I have similar problems with sage - replacing two this year for no apparent reason other than they are dead - any connection?
