Artemisia Schmidtiana ‘Nana’
Artemisia ‘Nana’ is a compact, evergreen perennial grown for its finely cut, silvery-grey foliage and neat, mounded habit. Ideal for edging, gravel gardens, alpine beds, and sunny borders, it adds striking contrast and texture to planting schemes year-round. Drought-tolerant, low-maintenance, and wonderfully adaptable, this little powerhouse is perfect for gardeners seeking structure and subtle elegance with minimal effort.
Quick Facts
Type: Evergreen perennial
Common Name: Dwarf Wormwood
Foliage Colour: Silvery-grey
Height: 10cm (0.3ft)
Spread: 30cm (1ft)
Flowering Time: Insignificant; grown for foliage
Hardiness: Hardy in the UK down to temperatures of -15 to -10 degrees Celcius (RHS hardiness rating H5)
Position: Full sun
Soil: Well-drained, sandy or gritty soil; tolerates poor or dry conditions
Elegant Silvery Foliage
The main appeal of Artemisia ‘Nana’ lies in its beautiful, silvery foliage. The finely dissected leaves have a soft, almost feathery appearance and a subtle scent when brushed. The silver tone provides a striking contrast to green-leaved plants and vibrant flowers, adding a touch of brightness and refinement to planting combinations.
Neat and Compact Growth
Forming a low, rounded mound, this dwarf variety stays tidy without pruning and is perfect for the front of borders, path edging, or creeping through rock gardens. It holds its shape well throughout the year, making it a valuable evergreen groundcover option for smaller garden spaces.
Ideal for Dry, Sunny Sites
Artemisia ‘Nana’ thrives in full sun and free-draining soil, especially in gravel or Mediterranean-style gardens. It performs exceptionally well in poor or dry soils and is a top choice for exposed or difficult areas where other plants might struggle.
Low Maintenance and Drought Tolerant
Once established, this plant requires almost no care. It is naturally drought-tolerant, needs no feeding, and rarely suffers from pests or diseases. A light trim in spring helps refresh the foliage and maintain its compact form.
Growing Tips
Watering: Water well during establishment. Once settled, it rarely needs watering except in extreme drought.
Feeding: Not required. Avoid rich soil or fertilisers, which may reduce foliage quality.
Pruning: Trim lightly in spring to neaten shape and encourage fresh growth.
Potted: Excellent in containers and troughs with free-draining compost and full sun.
Propagation: Propagate by division in spring or from semi-ripe cuttings in summer.
Hardy and Reliable
Fully hardy across the UK, Artemisia ‘Nana’ withstands cold winters and hot, dry summers with ease. Its evergreen presence ensures your garden has colour and texture even during the colder months, when many plants die back.
Companion Planting Ideas
Combine with other drought-tolerant, sun-loving plants for a beautifully textured and resilient display. Ideal companions include:
These plants complement Artemisia ‘Nana’ in both appearance and cultural requirements, creating harmonious planting schemes.
Why Choose Artemisia ‘Nana’?
For subtle beauty, evergreen structure, and effortless gardening, Artemisia ‘Nana’ is an outstanding choice. Whether edging a border, filling a dry patch, or softening a gravel path, it offers understated elegance and year-round interest with minimal care.
Choose Artemisia ‘Nana’ for its silvery foliage, compact form, and reliable performance in sun-drenched, low-maintenance gardens.
Buying Alpines from Jacksons Nurseries
At Jacksons Nurseries we lightly trim back our alpines after flowering to ensure that the plants remain neat and tidy whilst in the pot. The more tender the plant the less we cut back to help protect exposed stems from winter frost. Depending on the plant variety we will then prune back further in spring once the risk of the more severe frosts is over.
As a result, depending on the time of year you buy alpines, they may not look like images showing their ‘prime time’ in flower and looking at their best.
Availability: Stock availability figures are provided as a guide only. There is a delay between orders being placed and the plants being gathered by our pulling team. During this time it may be possible for a member of the public to purchase these plants from our Garden Centre, while this is rare it is a possibility and we will notify you of any problems as soon as possible. This figure may also include plants that have not yet be flagged as unsaleable.
Pre-order: Pre-order times are given as a guide only and may vary dependent on the growing season. Orders containing Pre-ordered products will be shipped as a single order when all items become available. Large orders may be part shipped, please contact us on 01782 502741 or email
orders@jacksonsnurseries.co.uk.
From late autumn onwards and dependant on variety, there may be very little visible above the soil except for a few cut back dormant leaves or stems. It is perfectly normal for dormant plants to look like this from autumn onwards, they will however burst back into life in spring.
Alpines are a group of perennials that generally grow in rocky conditions at high altitudes.
As for all plants, soil preparation is time well spent. Dig over the area to be planted ensuring that the ground is free draining. If not then you may wish to either consider planting in a different spot or raising the level of the planting area by adding additional topsoil, well rotted garden compost and/or well rotted manure. Add ‘Fish, Blood and Bone’ fertiliser or a high potash fertiliser to encourage good root growth and development.
It’s always a good idea to plant a few of the same plant together, we recommend planting in 3’s or 5’s to provide a bold effect but allowing them plenty of room to develop.
By using this simple guide and a little time, alpines can make an absolutely spectacular difference to your garden.
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