Silver mound is a semi-evergreen perennial native to Japan and a member of the aster family, Asteraceae, that also includes daisies, sunflowers, and lettuce. The species is rarely seen but the cultivar ‘Nana’ is a popular garden plant. It is slightly smaller than the species and forms a dense mound of finely divided silver-gray leaves that are so tightly packed on the stem that they appear to be in rosettes. The nodding yellow flower heads of both the species and ‘Nana’ are produced in panicles in late summer but are not ornamentally attractive. Plants tend to melt out in the heat of summers and benefit from a light clipping to remove flowers as they appear. ‘Silver mound ‘Nana’ is a good edger and especially attractive in a rock garden. The genus name, Artemesia, refers to the Greek goddess of chastity, the hunt and moon.
Type: Herbaceous perennial
Bloom: Panicles of nodding yellow flower heads in late summer; not ornamentally attractive
Size: Species 12-24” H x 18” W; ‘Nana 6-12” H
Light: Full sun
Soil: Lean, moderately moist, well-drained
Hardiness: Zones 3-7
Care: Remove flower heads as they appear to retrain shape
Pests and Diseases: Powdery mildew; stem and root root in overly moist soil
Propagation: Seed, division, softwood and semi-hardwood cuttings
Companion Plants: Cranesbills, lavender, ageratum, torch lily (Kniphofia uvaria)
Karen Meyers