European regional assessment: Least Concern (LC)
EU 27 regional assessment: Least Concern (LC)

This species is classified as Least Concern due to its widespread distribution, stable populations and no major threats.

Artemisia vulgaris is native to North Africa, temperate Asia and Europe, except the extreme north (USDA, ARS, National Genetic Resources Program 2012).

Common throughout all of Europe with stable populations.

A medium to tall tufted, aromatic perennial herb found in hedgerows, riverbanks, roadsides and waste places growing on a variety of fertile soil types. It occurs in urban areas where its seeds are easily dispersed through human activity and flowers from May to September (Online Atlas of the British and Irish Flora 2012, Blamey and Grey-Wilson 2003).

There are no known threats to this species.

The whole plant extracts are used in phytotherapy for epilepsy and in combination for psychoneuroses, depression, irritability, insomnia and anxiety states (Lewis and Elvin-Lewis 2003).

Mugwort has a long history of use in herbal medicine for complaints of the digestive system, menstrual pain and the treatment of worms. It is slightly toxic and prolonged dosage can damage the nervous system. An infusion of the leaves and flowering tops is used in the treatment of nervous and spasmodic affections, sterility, functional bleeding of the uterus, dysmenorrhoea, asthma and diseases of the brain. The leaves have an antibacterial action against many bacteria. The stem and roots are tonic and antispasmodic and known as one of the best stomachics (Plants for a Future 2012).

Its essential oil is effective as a repellent and fumigant against insect pests (Wang et al. 2006).

As it is a common species. There are currently no conservation actions.

It is listed as Least Concern in Denmark (NERI 2007), Estonia (eBiodiversity Estonia 2012), Germany (Ludwig and Schnittler 1996), Luxembourg (Colling 2005), Norway (Artsdatabanken 2010), Switzerland (Moser et al. 2002) and the United Kingdom (Cheffings and Farrell 2005).