Heirloom

Sweet Annie

Artemisia annua

Wikimedia Commons

Harvest

120d

Days to harvest

📅

Sun

Full sun to partial shade

☀️

Zones

1–11

USDA hardiness

🗺️

Height

1-4 feet

📏

Planting Timeline

Zone:

Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

May

Jun

Jul

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

Start Indoors

Transplant

Harvest

Start Indoors

Transplant

Harvest

Showing dates for Sweet Annie in USDA Zone 7

All Zone 7 herb →

Zone Map

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Sweet Annie · Zones 1–11

What grows well in Zone 7? →

Growing Details

Difficulty

Easy

Spacing12-18 inches

SoilWell-drained soil, tolerates average to poor fertility

WaterModerate; drought tolerant once established

SeasonWarm season annual

ColorDark green foliage with cream-yellow flowers

Zone-by-Zone Planting Calendar

Zone	Indoor Start	Transplant	Direct Sow	Harvest
Zone 3	April – May	June – July	—	July – October
Zone 4	March – April	June – July	—	July – October
Zone 5	March – April	May – June	—	June – October
Zone 6	March – April	May – June	—	June – November
Zone 7	February – March	April – June	—	June – November
Zone 8	February – March	April – May	—	May – December
Zone 9	January – February	March – April	—	April – December
Zone 10	January – January	February – April	—	April – December
Zone 1	May – June	July – August	—	August – August
Zone 2	April – May	June – August	—	August – September
Zone 11	January – January	January – March	—	March – December

Complete Growing Guide

Tall plants with fern-like dark green foliage dotted with tiny cream-yellow colored flowers. Use foliage for wreaths and as filler for mixed bouquets. Also known as sweet sagewort, sweet wormwood, and Chinese wormwood. According to Johnny's Selected Seeds, Sweet Annie is 120 days to maturity, annual, open pollinated. Notable features: Organic Seeds, Plants, and Supplies, Use for Cut Flowers and Bouquets, Fragrant, Ideal for Drying and Crafts.

Light: Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day), Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours). Soil: Loam (Silt), Sand, Shallow Rocky. Soil pH: Acid (<6.0), Alkaline (>8.0), Neutral (6.0-8.0). Drainage: Occasionally Dry, Very Dry. Height: 1 ft. 0 in. - 4 ft. 0 in. Spread: 1 ft. 0 in. - 6 ft. 0 in. Spacing: 12 inches-3 feet. Growth rate: Medium. Maintenance: Medium. Propagation: Division. Regions: Coastal, Mountains, Piedmont.

Harvesting

Sweet Annie reaches harvest at 120 days from sowing per Johnny's Selected Seeds. As an annual, harvest continues until frost ends the season.

Bloom time: Summer

Storage & Preservation

Store freshly harvested Sweet Annie stems in a cool, dark place with good air circulation, ideally between 50–60°F and 40–50% humidity. Keep them loosely bundled to prevent mold. Fresh material will remain usable for about one to two weeks if kept dry.

Drying is the preferred preservation method for this herb. Hang bundles upside down in a well-ventilated area away from direct sunlight, or lay stems on screens. Dried Sweet Annie stores exceptionally well in airtight containers kept away from light and moisture—expect viable storage for one to two years. Freezing works but diminishes the herb's potency; if freezing, chop and store in freezer bags with minimal air.

Sweet Annie's volatile oils concentrate during the drying process, so dried material is actually more potent than fresh for medicinal applications. Harvest just as flowers begin to open for maximum artemisinin content.

History & Origin

Sweet Annie is open-pollinated, meaning seed saved from healthy plants will produce true-to-type offspring. Listed in the Johnny's Selected Seeds catalog.

Origin: Europe, Subtropical Northern Hemisphere & S. America

Advantages

+Attractive fern-like foliage works beautifully in wreaths and floral arrangements
+Tiny cream-yellow flowers provide delicate texture for mixed bouquets
+Reaches full maturity in 120 days with relatively easy cultivation
+Pleasant aromatic foliage adds value for dried herbal crafts

Considerations

-Tall plants require staking or support to prevent lodging damage
-Tends to self-seed prolifically, potentially becoming weedy in gardens
-Prefers well-draining soil and struggles in poorly drained conditions

Companion Plants

Aromatic companions are the strongest pairing here. Marigolds and lavender planted within 18 inches reinforce a scent barrier that confuses aphids and whiteflies — the mechanism is olfactory disruption from overlapping volatile compounds, not garden mythology. Roses get a more specific benefit: Sweet Annie's artemisinin and related terpenes appear to inhibit fungal spore germination on nearby foliage. That pairs well with what NC State Extension recommends for black spot management anyway — improving air circulation and reducing leaf wetness — so Sweet Annie does some of the chemical work while good spacing handles the rest. Tomatoes and cabbage gain pest-confusion advantages through the same interplanting logic NC State's vegetable IPM guidance describes: mixing plant families breaks up blocks of pest-preferred crops and slows early damage from spreading across a whole bed.

Lettuce, spinach, and peas don't do well close by. Artemisia species are documented allelopathic plants — root exudates and decomposing leaf litter release compounds that suppress germination and stunt nearby cool-season crops. Lettuce and spinach are particularly sensitive. Keep at least 24 inches of buffer, or plant them at opposite ends of the garden entirely.

Plant Together

Tomatoes

Sweet Annie repels hornworms and other tomato pests with its strong artemisia scent

Cabbage

Deters cabbage moths, flea beetles, and other brassica pests

Carrots

Repels carrot flies and root maggots while not competing for nutrients

Roses

Natural pest deterrent that helps repel aphids and Japanese beetles

Beans

Protects against Mexican bean beetles and does not interfere with nitrogen fixation

Marigolds

Complementary pest control creating a strong barrier against nematodes and aphids

Lavender

Similar growing conditions and combined aromatic oils enhance pest-repelling properties

Sage

Compatible aromatic herb that helps deter cabbage loopers and carrot flies

Keep Apart

Lettuce

Sweet Annie's allelopathic compounds can stunt lettuce growth and cause bitter taste

Spinach

Artemisia oils inhibit seed germination and slow growth of leafy greens

Peas

Strong scent and root exudates can interfere with pea plant development and pod formation

Nutrition Facts

Calories

23kcal(1%)

Protein

3.15g(6%)

Fiber

1.6g(6%)

Carbs

2.65g(1%)

Fat

0.64g(1%)

Vitamin C

18mg(20%)

Vitamin A

264mcg(29%)

Vitamin K

415mcg(346%)

Iron

3.17mg(18%)

Calcium

177mg(14%)

Potassium

295mg(6%)

Per 100g serving. % Daily Value based on 2,000 calorie diet. Source: USDA FoodData Central (FDC #172232)

Troubleshooting Sweet Annie

What you'll see, why it happens, and what to do about it.

Seedlings collapse at soil level within the first 2 weeks after germination, stems look pinched or blackened at the base

Likely Causes

Damping off — typically Pythium or Rhizoctonia species — triggered by overwatering and poor air circulation around seedlings
Starting seeds in non-sterile mix that holds too much moisture

What to Do

1.Use a sterile seed-starting mix and make sure trays have drainage holes you're actually using
2.Run a small fan near seedlings for 20–30 minutes a day to keep surface moisture down
3.Water from the bottom (tray-soak) rather than overhead, and let the mix dry slightly between waterings

Plant stays under 12 inches tall and looks leggy or pale after transplanting, even in warm weather

Likely Causes

Insufficient light — Sweet Annie planted in less than 4 hours of direct sun per day will stall and stretch
Excess nitrogen at transplant, which NC State Extension's IPM guidance flags as producing soft growth that's more vulnerable to pest and structural problems

What to Do

1.Move to a full-sun spot; this plant wants 6+ hours and will size up quickly once it gets them
2.Skip nitrogen-heavy fertilizer for the first 4–6 weeks after transplant — Sweet Annie in decent soil doesn't need much pushing
3.If you're stuck with partial shade, expect a shorter plant (closer to 1–2 feet) and plan to harvest earlier, around day 90–100

Leaves develop a faint bronze or stippled look, undersides feel gritty or show fine webbing during dry spells

Likely Causes

Spider mites (Tetranychus urticae) — they move fast on stressed plants in hot, dry conditions above 85°F
Letting young plants go too long without water during establishment, dropping them into drought stress before roots are deep enough to compensate

What to Do

1.Blast the undersides of leaves with a hard stream of water for 3–4 consecutive days to knock the population down
2.If mites persist, apply insecticidal soap — coat the undersides thoroughly, repeat every 5–7 days for 2–3 applications
3.Once roots are established at 8–10 weeks, Sweet Annie handles dry spells without much help, but younger plants still need consistent moisture to stay out of trouble

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does Sweet Annie take to grow from seed to harvest?▼

Sweet Annie typically takes 120 days from planting to harvest maturity. However, you can begin harvesting foliage for wreaths and arrangements earlier in the season once plants are well-established. The plant grows quickly in warm conditions and benefits from a full growing season for maximum foliage production and flower development.

Is Sweet Annie good for beginners?▼

Yes, Sweet Annie is excellent for beginner gardeners. It's rated as an Easy difficulty heirloom variety that thrives with minimal care. It tolerates a range of conditions, grows quickly, and is hardy. Whether you're starting seeds indoors or direct sowing, this herb is forgiving and reliable for new gardeners wanting to grow ornamental or craft herbs.

Can you grow Sweet Annie in containers?▼

Sweet Annie can be grown in containers, though it prefers ample space since it grows quite tall with fern-like foliage. Use well-draining potting soil and ensure the container is at least 12 inches deep. Container-grown plants may need more frequent watering and benefit from staking for support as they mature and become full.

When should I plant Sweet Annie seeds?▼

Plant Sweet Annie seeds after your last spring frost when soil has warmed. You can start seeds indoors 6-8 weeks before the last frost date for earlier blooms, or direct sow outdoors once frost danger has passed. The plant thrives in warm-season growing and will reach full size and flowering by mid to late summer.

What are the best uses for Sweet Annie foliage?▼

Sweet Annie's fern-like dark green foliage and tiny cream-yellow flowers make it perfect for dried wreaths, floral arrangements, and mixed bouquets as greenery filler. The foliage retains its shape and color well when dried. Historically, this herb has also been used for its aromatic and medicinal properties, though it's primarily grown today as an ornamental and craft herb.

How much sun does Sweet Annie need to grow well?▼

Sweet Annie thrives in full sun to partial shade, requiring at least 4-6 hours of direct sunlight daily. Plants grown in full sun (6+ hours) tend to be bushier and more vigorous, while those in partial shade still perform well. Adequate light ensures robust foliage development and better flower production for harvesting.