Absinth wormwood

Discuss this plant with the guide — choose this profile as a possible match and prepare your observations for Colorado Plants & Practical Care.

Artemisia absinthium

Colorado noxious weed · List B — Stop the spread. CO-rules-2025

Established in some areas. Requirements vary by location: eradication, containment or suppression to stop further spread. This is a management category, separate from danger ratings. Category source · What the lists mean.

Ingestion toxicity and skin irritation. Exposure help.

Still researching this plant

This is a sourced working profile. Evidence is incomplete for Dogs & cats, Other animals. Independent botanical and veterinary review is pending. Uncertainty is not a finding that the plant is safe.

Three views of this plant

Source-identified reference photographs; these are not a complete identification key. A source location outside Colorado does not establish local occurrence.

**young foliage** — Dense young growth with deeply divided gray-green leaves, viewed from above.
Agnieszka Kwiecień, Nova · CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo source and identification
Original record · Original image
Source-identified photograph with visual consistency check Absinthium ( Artemisia absinthium ), plant cultivated in Wrocław University Botanical Garden, Wrocław, Poland. Source labeling and visible consistency checked; not an independent specimen determination.
Wikimedia-generated thumbnail rescaling only; downloaded bytes unchanged. Gallery display preserves the full image; the catalog preview uses a CSS crop.

**habit** — Upright silvery, bushy wormwood with divided leaves growing in grassland.
Stefan.lefnaer · CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo source and identification
Original record · Original image
Source-identified photograph with visual consistency check Habitus Taxonym: Artemisia absinthium ss Fischer et al. EfÖLS 2008 ISBN 978-3-85474-187-9 Location: Kranberg bei Ziersdorf, district Hollabrunn, Lower Austria - ca. 350 m a.s.l. Habitat: semi-dry grassland Source labeling and visible consistency checked; not an independent specimen determination.
Wikimedia-generated thumbnail rescaling only; downloaded bytes unchanged. Gallery display preserves the full image; the catalog preview uses a CSS crop.

**reproductive stems** — Tall reproductive stems rising above broad divided lower leaves in bare, dry soil.
Stefan.lefnaer · CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo source and identification
Original record · Original image
Source-identified photograph with visual consistency check Habitus Taxonym: Artemisia absinthium ss Fischer et al. EfÖLS 2008 ISBN 978-3-85474-187-9 Location: semi-dry grasslands and wine yards to the north of Oberthern, municipality Heldenberg, district Hollabrunn, Lower Austria - ca. 300 m ü. A. Habitat: rein Source labeling and visible consistency checked; not an independent specimen determination.
Wikimedia-generated thumbnail rescaling only; downloaded bytes unchanged. Gallery display preserves the full image; the catalog preview uses a CSS crop.

Recognize

Aromatic, silver-gray, finely divided leaves and small, drooping yellow-green flowerheads on a perennial. N-artemisia-absinthium

Plants & habitat

Escapes cultivation into disturbed sites and spreads by seed. Colorado’s designation applies despite ornamental or historical beverage uses. N-artemisia-absinthium

People

Thujone-containing plant material can cause serious poisoning when overused; contact dermatitis is also reported. This guide does not recommend medicinal or food preparation. N-artemisia-absinthium

Dogs & cats

The reviewed sources do not establish species-specific ingestion effects or a safe exposure amount for dogs or cats. Missing evidence does not establish safety.

Other animals

The reviewed sources do not establish species-specific ingestion effects or a safe exposure amount for livestock. Missing evidence does not establish safety.

Before taking action

Confirm identification and the requirements of your county weed program. For chemical treatment, follow the current product label, including restrictions around animals and water. S27

References

CO-rules-2025 — Colorado Noxious Weed Act rules, 8 CCR 1206-2, Colorado Secretary of State / Department of Agriculture. Accessed 2026-09-07T01:07:48+00:00. Locator: Parts 3.1, 4.1, 5.1; management provisions; effective May 15, 2025.
N-artemisia-absinthium — artemisia absinthium — Plant Toolbox, NC State Extension. Accessed 2026-09-07T01:04:53+00:00. Locator: Description; Attributes; Problems; Poisonous to Humans.
S27 — 2103 – Colorado Noxious Weeds, PlantTalk Colorado · CSU Extension. Accessed 2026-09-07T00:23:57+00:00. Locator: List A, B and C management categories.

Content revised 2026-09-07 03:50:00Z · Source checks dated separately in the references.