Artemisia stelleriana

‘Mori’s Strain’

SILVER CARPET SAGE

Artemisia stelleriana ‘Mori’s Strain’
SILVER CARPET SAGE

Artemisia stelleriana ‘Mori’s Strain’ forms a cool, clean carpet of silver-white foliage.
Making a sparkling groundcover to highlight any planting design.

Groundcover of silver-white foliage

This silver-white carpet of soft, foliage will lift all the green; define edges; and set off flowers of any colour.
The pretty, rounded and scalloped leaves look as if they have been cut from silver velvet.

Weed suppressing carpet

Artemisia stelleriana ‘Mori’s Strain’ grows as a dense carpet of foliage, with the stems laying flat close to the ground, and blocking out weeds very effectively.
Each plant forms a circle approximately 60cm. across and 15cm. high.
They are brilliant mass planted or as an edge line. 

Wherever conditions are tough

But when you combine good looks with bone rugged hardiness, then you have a really useful plant.
So I use it to edge garden beds; create a groundcover wherever the conditions are tough; and under roses.
It works wonderfully well in so many difficult places.
And looks smashing with spring bulb blooms poking up through the silver groundcover, and then the velvet foliage grows over the waning brown bulbs to disguise the untidy mess.

Pleasantly aromatic

Artemisia stelleriana ‘Mori’s Strain’ has pleasantly aromatic foliage, and has long been used as a companion plant with roses, and among fruit trees and veggies.

Repel the pesky bugs

Because the aroma is believed to help deter sucking insects.
So the leaves are also traditionally harvested, dried, and used in pot-pourris – to scent rooms and keep the moths out of the woollens cupboard.

Bone tough

Artemisia stelleriana ‘Mori’s Strain’ makes a success of it in a wide range of conditions.

Water saving

So it can thrive in poor and infertile soils; sandy, gravel and stony ground; live on a sniff of extra water; and shrugs off heat and harsh sun.
The leaves are after all highly reflective silver-white, and softly furry.

Frost hardy

‘Mori’s Strain’ is hardy in frosty temperatures down to -15°C.

Hardy persistent perennial

Artemisia stelleriana is a frost and heat hardy, long lived and persistent perennial.
So it will be with you for many years.

Relishes sun & dry

Plant in full sun.
Though it can also tolerate a little shade as long as it is kept dry and well aired.
‘Mori’s Strain’ is exceptionally handy as a binding groundcover on slopes, and as a decorative survivor in tough spots.
But do not place it where it is too well fed or watered – it does best, and looks best when treated mean and lean.

Low maintenance easy care

‘Mori’s Strain’ is low maintenance, and can be easily kept looking fresh with an annual hard chop.
I cut mine at flowering time, as the flowers are insignificant – so I cut them off to feature the foliage.
It is virtually never pestered by any bugs, pests or diseases, and nothing eats it.

Rabbit & deer resistant

Fortunately for the sanity of gardeners – rabbits and deer do not enjoy the flavour and aroma of Artemisia, so tend to avoid it on their way to tastier salads like your lettuce.

Hardy perennial mound.
Approximately 60cm. across and 15cm. high mound of silver velvet aromatic foliage.

SEED SOWING ADVICE: QUICK & EASY
Suitable for beginners & gardening with kids

Sow seeds for Artemisia stelleriana ‘Mori’s Strain’ at any time indoors in punnets.
OR
Scatter directly in the garden in autumn and winter.

Sow indoors for early plants & optimum germination: First sow the seeds in a punnet on the surface of good quality seed raising mix.

Then gently pat the surface of the mix to ensure the seeds have good contact with the mix.
But do not cover the seeds with any mix.
Because these seeds need light to germinate.

Now thoroughly moisten the mix by standing the sown punnet in a shallow water bath and allowing the water to percolate through below, until the surface is moist.

Place the punnet in a warm, well lit position (not in any direct sunlight).

Temperatures of 15-21°C are ideal for rapid and optimum germination.
You can use a heat mat to maintain temperature if you have one, but it is not essential as these seeds are willing germinators.
A sheltered window sill or warm corner is fine.

Then continue to keep consistently moist by misting from a spray water bottle as required.
Covering the punnet with a clear plastic cover will help maintain consistent moisture and prevent drying out.

Seedlings may begin emerging as soon as 10 days, but normally 14-28 days.

Seed count: 20 seeds per pack approx.
(We always aim to exceed the seed count and give a generous serve).

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