Photo: John PhelanCC BY-SA 3.0via Wikimedia Commonsresized / cropped
Old Woman, Dusty Miller, Beach Wormwood, Nantucket Rag Plant Care
Artemisia stelleriana Besser
Updated · Sources · How we source care data
This plant's striking silvery foliage is its most distinctive visual feature, originating from the coastal regions of northeastern Asia. Plant collectors are drawn to Artemisia stelleriana for its unique color and texture, adding a touch of elegance and contrast to gardens and landscapes.
Every 7–14 days
Full sun to partial shade
50–75°F
30–60%
At a glance
How do you care for Old Woman, Dusty Miller, Beach Wormwood, Nantucket Rag?
Plant Old Woman, Dusty Miller, Beach Wormwood, Nantucket Rag in full sun to partial shade (USDA zones 3a–9b) and water a young shrub every 7–14 days until it is established. It tolerates temperatures of 50–75°F (10–24°C). Fertilize it every 6 months during the growing season.
Where Is the Old Woman, Dusty Miller, Beach Wormwood, Nantucket Rag Native To?
What Is the Old Woman, Dusty Miller, Beach Wormwood, Nantucket Rag?
Old Woman, Dusty Miller, Beach Wormwood, Nantucket Rag (Artemisia stelleriana) belongs to the Asteraceae family within the Artemisia genus. Old Woman, Dusty Miller, Beach Wormwood, Nantucket Rag is native to China, Japan, Korea, Russian Far East, and the Aleutian Islands in the United States. Old Woman, Dusty Miller, Beach Wormwood, Nantucket Rag is also known as Artemisia chinensis, Artemisia stelleriana.
Old Woman, Dusty Miller, Beach Wormwood, Nantucket Rag displays an upright, bushy shrub growth habit, reaching up to 2 ft tall with a spread of approximately 3 ft. Old Woman, Dusty Miller, Beach Wormwood, Nantucket Rag produces insignificant small yellow or white flowers.
Leaf size: approximately 2 inches.
How Often Should You Water a Old Woman, Dusty Miller, Beach Wormwood, Nantucket Rag?
Water a young or newly planted Old Woman, Dusty Miller, Beach Wormwood, Nantucket Rag every 7–14 days, soaking the whole root zone, until it is established — usually one to two growing seasons. Established shrubs mainly need water during long dry spells. In a container, water whenever the top few centimetres of soil are dry.
Watering Frequency
Every 7–14 days
Until established; then in dry spells
What Light Does the Old Woman, Dusty Miller, Beach Wormwood, Nantucket Rag Need?
Old Woman, Dusty Miller, Beach Wormwood, Nantucket Rag thrives in full sun to partial shade.
Light Requirement
Full sun to partial shade
What Temperature and Humidity Does the Old Woman, Dusty Miller, Beach Wormwood, Nantucket Rag Prefer?
Artemisia stelleriana tolerates temperatures of 50–75°F. Old Woman, Dusty Miller, Beach Wormwood, Nantucket Rag prefers humidity levels of 30–60%.
Temperature
50–75°F
Humidity
30–60%
What Soil Mix Works Best for a Old Woman, Dusty Miller, Beach Wormwood, Nantucket Rag?
Well-draining sandy soil with low fertility. Good drainage is essential for Old Woman, Dusty Miller, Beach Wormwood, Nantucket Rag to prevent waterlogging, which leads to root rot and fungal issues.
How Often Should You Fertilize a Old Woman, Dusty Miller, Beach Wormwood, Nantucket Rag?
Feed Old Woman, Dusty Miller, Beach Wormwood, Nantucket Rag every 6 months during the growing season with a balanced, slow-release fertilizer at the rate on the label. Established shrubs in good soil often need little extra feeding, so let weak growth or pale foliage guide you.
Stop feeding by late summer so new growth can harden before winter.
Fertilizing
Every 6 months
During the growing season
The PlantoScan app can remind you when to water and when to fertilize each plant.
Where Should You Plant a Old Woman, Dusty Miller, Beach Wormwood, Nantucket Rag?
Choose a spot with full sun to partial shade and well-draining sandy soil with low fertility. Avoid low spots where water collects after rain.
Old Woman, Dusty Miller, Beach Wormwood, Nantucket Rag is suited to USDA Zone 3a – 9b.
Plant container-grown or balled-and-burlapped shrubs in spring or early autumn, setting the root flare at soil level, and water well after planting.
How Far Apart Should You Plant a Old Woman, Dusty Miller, Beach Wormwood, Nantucket Rag?
Old Woman, Dusty Miller, Beach Wormwood, Nantucket Rag can spread to about 3 ft (0.9 m) and reach about 2 ft (1 m) tall. Space plants about 3 ft (0.9 m) apart so mature crowns don't crowd each other, and plant at least half that distance from buildings, fences and paths.
Planning a row or hedge? Try the plant spacing calculator.
How Do You Prune a Old Woman, Dusty Miller, Beach Wormwood, Nantucket Rag?
Prune Old Woman, Dusty Miller, Beach Wormwood, Nantucket Rag while it is dormant in late winter: first remove dead, damaged and crossing branches, then thin lightly for shape.
If it flowers in spring, prune right after flowering instead so you don't remove next year's buds. Never take off more than about a quarter of the shrub in one year.
How Do You Care for a Old Woman, Dusty Miller, Beach Wormwood, Nantucket Rag in Winter?
Old Woman, Dusty Miller, Beach Wormwood, Nantucket Rag is hardy down to USDA zone 3a, so once established it can stay outdoors through winter in that zone and warmer ones.
Water deeply in late autumn before the ground freezes, and spread a 5–8 cm (2–3 in) layer of mulch over the root zone, keeping it away from the trunk.
Young and container-grown shrubs need extra protection: roots in a pot freeze much more easily than roots in the ground.
How Do You Propagate a Old Woman, Dusty Miller, Beach Wormwood, Nantucket Rag?
Old Woman, Dusty Miller, Beach Wormwood, Nantucket Rag can be propagated through seeds, division. Similar propagation techniques also apply to southernwood plant care, which shares the same genus.
Is the Old Woman, Dusty Miller, Beach Wormwood, Nantucket Rag Toxic to Pets and Children?
Pet safety not verified
The ASPCA does not list Old Woman, Dusty Miller, Beach Wormwood, Nantucket Rag, so we can't confirm whether it is safe for cats and dogs. Keep pets from chewing it as a precaution.
This is a general caution, not veterinary or medical advice. If your pet ate a plant, contact your vet or animal poison control.
See all plants toxic to cats and plants toxic to dogs.
What Pests and Diseases Affect the Old Woman, Dusty Miller, Beach Wormwood, Nantucket Rag?
Old Woman, Dusty Miller, Beach Wormwood, Nantucket Rag is susceptible to aphids, spider mites. Inspect the foliage regularly, especially along leaf undersides and stems. Treat infestations promptly with insecticidal soap or neem oil to prevent spread.
Yellow leaves, brown tips or drooping? See common plant problems and how to fix them.
What USDA Hardiness Zone Does the Old Woman, Dusty Miller, Beach Wormwood, Nantucket Rag Need?
Old Woman, Dusty Miller, Beach Wormwood, Nantucket Rag grows outdoors in USDA Zone 3a – 9b. It survives winters down to planting zone 3a. Old Woman, Dusty Miller, Beach Wormwood, Nantucket Rag is native to China, Japan, Korea, Russian Far East, and the Aleutian Islands in the United States.
Hardiness Zone
Zone 3a – 9b
Keep exploring plants
Old Woman, Dusty Miller, Beach Wormwood, Nantucket Rag is one of many species covered in the complete plant care and identification guide, which groups plants by genus, attribute, and popularity.
It belongs to the Artemisia genus — compare its care with other Artemisia species on PlantoScan.
Artemisia is part of the Asteraceae plant family — browse all Asteraceae genera and species.
Old Woman, Dusty Miller, Beach Wormwood, Nantucket Rag thrives in bright light and direct sun — see other bright-light plants.
More Artemisia Species
Other Artemisia species in PlantoScan's care catalogue share similar watering, light, and soil preferences:
Sources
- Scientific name & taxonomy: Artemisia stelleriana Besser, family Asteraceae (first published in Nouv. Mém. Soc. Imp. Naturalistes Moscou 3: 79 (1834)) — World Flora Online record, IPNI name record.
- Pet toxicity: Pet safety not verified: the ASPCA does not list Old Woman, Dusty Miller, Beach Wormwood, Nantucket Rag, so we can't confirm whether it is safe for cats and dogs. Checked against the ASPCA plant list; any other toxicity note on this page comes from PlantoScan's plant database.
- Photo: John Phelan, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons — original.
- Hardiness zone: USDA Zone 3a – 9b, estimated from the plant's typical growing conditions.
- Care values(watering, light, temperature, humidity, soil, fertilizing): PlantoScan's plant database, filtered by automatic plausibility checks — values that fail them are hidden. How we source and check plant data.
Spotted a mistake? Email info@upvision.media with the page link — we check and correct reported errors.
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