Culture
Best grown in evenly moist to dry, well-draining, relatively poor, sandy loams in full sun to part shade. Tolerant of drought once established. Hardy in Zones 3-7.
Noteworthy Characteristics
Artemisia gmelinii is an aromatic, perennial subshrub native to a variety of habitats including dry, stony hillsides, slopes, roadsides, shrublands, meadows, and forested steppes in central and eastern Asia. Can be the dominant plant species in some areas, particularly south-facing slopes. Mature plants will reach roughly 1.75-3.25' tall with an equal spread. The branching stems emerge in a dense clump from woody rhizomes and produce glandular, highly dissected, triangle or elliptic-ovate foliage reaching 4" long and 3" wide. Broad, branching, terminal panicles appear in late summer and mid-fall, reaching around 1.25' tall and 0.75' wide and producing small, nodding capitula (composite inflorescences common in the Asteraceae family made up of disk and ray florets forming a rounded head).
Genus is named for Artemis, Greek goddess of the moon, wild animals and hunting.
The specific epithet gmelinii honors Johann Gottlieb Gmelin (1709-1755) was a German naturalist, botanist and professor of medicine.
'Balfernlym' is a herbaceous perennial that features showy, fern-like leaves. The floral display is not considered horticulturally significant. Mature plants will reach around 1.5' tall and around 1.5' wide. Commonly sold at nurseries and garden centers under the name SUNFERN OLYMPIA. This plant is protected by patent number PP33775.
Problems
No known pest or disease problems.
Uses
Accent for container plantings, sunny beds and borders.