Artemisia Schmidtiana - Garden Ghost

Artemisia Schmidtiana - Garden Ghost is a stunning perennial plant known for its ethereal silvery-white foliage that creates a ghostly appearance in garden landscapes. This low-growing artemisia variety forms a compact, mounding habit that adds texture and contrast to borders, rock gardens, and container plantings. The finely dissected, feathery leaves maintain their striking silver color throughout the growing season, making Garden Ghost an excellent choice for adding visual interest even when not in bloom. This drought-tolerant perennial thrives in sunny locations and requires minimal maintenance, making it perfect for busy gardeners seeking elegant, long-lasting garden additions.

Key Features:

- Creates a striking silver-white accent in perennial gardens and mixed borders with its distinctive foliage color.

- Maintains a neat, compact growth habit reaching 8-12 inches tall and 12-18 inches wide at maturity.

- Offers excellent drought tolerance once established, making it an environmentally friendly choice for water-wise gardens.

- Provides beautiful texture contrast when paired with broad-leaved perennials or flowering plants in garden designs.

- Deters many garden pests with its aromatic foliage, reducing the need for chemical interventions.

- Performs reliably as a long-lived perennial with minimal care requirements for years of garden enjoyment.

Plant Care Instructions

1. Light Requirements:

- Prefers full sun for best foliage color and compact growth.

- Requires at least 6-8 hours of direct sunlight daily.

- Can tolerate light afternoon shade in hotter climates.

2. Watering:

- Water moderately when first planted to establish strong roots.

- Once established, water only during extended drought periods.

- Allow soil to dry between waterings to prevent root rot.

3. Soil Type:

- Thrives in well-draining, sandy or gravelly soil.

- Prefers poor to moderately fertile soil conditions.

- Add coarse sand or fine gravel to improve drainage in heavy soils.

4. Temperature & Hardiness Zone:

- Hardy to Zone 3b with excellent cold tolerance.

- Withstands temperature fluctuations from -30°F to 90°F.

- No special frost protection needed in established plantings.

5. Fertilizer:

- Apply light application of balanced slow-release fertilizer in early spring.

- Avoid high-nitrogen fertilizers which can cause floppy growth.

- No additional feeding necessary throughout the growing season.

6. Pruning & Maintenance:

- Trim back by one-third in early spring to maintain compact shape.

- Remove any damaged or winter-killed foliage when new growth appears.

- Divide plants every 3-4 years to rejuvenate growth and prevent center die-out.

7. Special Notes:

- Contains compounds that may cause skin irritation in sensitive individuals.

- Deer and rabbit resistant due to aromatic foliage.

- Cut back severely in late fall to prevent winter damage in Zone 3b conditions.