The biology of Canadian weeds. 118. Artemisia vulgaris L.

Abstract

Artemisia vulgaris L. (mugwort) is an introduced rhizomatous perennial found primarily along roadsides, in waste areas, and in non-containerized nursery crops in eastern regions of Canada and the United States. Artemisia vulgaris is rapidly spreading throughout the Northern Hemisphere, and is currently found in nine Canadian provinces, as well as half of the states in the United States. Historically, A. vulgaris has been used as an herbal remedy and for flavouring beer, but recently has been identified as a primary pest of nurseries and urban landscapes, largely because of its ability to propagate easily from small rhizome fragments, and because of ineffective control strategies. The recent expansion of the nursery/landscape sector has accelerated the spread of A. vulgaris into turfgrass and landscape settings throughout the Northern Hemisphere, but especially westward towards the Pacific Coast. With few effective strategies for control, this aggressive weed has rapidly colonized new areas, often forming dense monospecific stands. Not surprisingly, species diversity of native flora in these habitats has declined following A. vulgaris colonization. The mechanisms of interference (e.g., allelopathy and competition) and current strategies for the control of A. vulgaris are discussed. Key words: Mugwort, ARTVU, Artemisia vulgaris, Asteraceae, Compositae, weed biology