Yomogi

Yomogi, or japanese mugwort is a very hardy plant.  It tolerates drought and has attractive green foliage with a fuzzy underside.  It tolerates all exposures from full shade to full sun and actually appears to be able to thrive under those various conditions assuming nutritious and well-drained soil.

The flavor is woodsy and clean, and is reminiscent of rosemary mixed with wormwood (slightly bitter).

We have had a variety of foliage types, from broad leafed with spiky boarders to almost completely lanceolate.

It grows readily from cuttings and spreads via rhizome.  As such it grows similarly to peppermint, taking over an area where it is planted to the exclusion of less competitive plants.  It's decorative usefulness is limited by this aggressive behavior, although it can make a striking addition to your landscape if contained by a deep border or grown in a large container.

One thing is for sure, it will survive where other plants perish and it makes a excellent pot-herb, cutting through heavy/greasy flavors with a clean/sprucy sharpness that refreshes.  It is a member of the artemisia family and as such should not be used excessively or for long durations of time due to the possibility of thujone poisoning, which effects the liver.  To the best of my knowledge, no studies exist related to the presence of thujone in yomogi.


References:

• yomogi seeds at kitazawa seeds
• kusa mochi - a rice dish that uses yomogi
• recipe for kusa mochi and other yomogi info
• yomogi discussion - maybe it can help with cancer, diabetes, obesity etc.