Artemisia annua
Sweet annie, Sweet Annie
(c) Sandy Wolkenberg, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Sandy Wolkenberg · licence
Family: Asteraceae · Type: Herb · Not Native
Artemisia annua (Sweet annie) is a non-native California herb in the Asteraceae family.
Sweet annie is a naturalized annual found in southern California in disturbed sites at elevations below 1,000 meters. Flowering from July to October, this plant produces small discoid flower heads in nodding, wide, much-branched inflorescences. Growing with a single erect stem 30 to 200 centimeters tall, it is characterized by its sweet scent and bright green color. Its leaves are large, triangular, and intricately divided into 2 to 3 pinnate segments, creating a delicate, lacy appearance. The plant is notable for its aromatic quality and ability to thrive in disturbed environments.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 9 sympatric species; annual habit is key differentiator
Habitat and range
Habitat: Uncommon. Disturbed sites
Elevation: < 1000 m
Outside California: native to Europe
Bloom period
Artemisia annua blooms Jul-Oct.
How to tell it apart
vs Salvia: Artemisia has tiny clustered flower heads in the sunflower family; Salvia has two-lipped tubular flowers in the mint family with square stems.; vs Ambrosia: Artemisia has fused anthers and typically silvery foliage; Ambrosia has free anthers and often deeply lobed green leaves.; vs Ericameria: Artemisia is aromatic with inconspicuous greenish heads lacking rays; Ericameria has bright yellow daisy-like heads with showy ray petals.; vs Pseudognaphalium: Artemisia has no seed bristles and woody stems; Pseudognaphalium has fluffy white pappus bristles and soft herbaceous stems.; vs Eschscholzia: Artemisia has tiny greenish clustered flower heads; Eschscholzia has large showy orange or yellow poppy flowers with 4 petals.
Frequently asked questions
Is Artemisia annua native to California?
No. Artemisia annua is not native to California (recorded as not native).
When does Artemisia annua bloom?
Artemisia annua blooms Jul-Oct.
What plant family does Artemisia annua belong to?
Artemisia annua is in the Asteraceae family, genus Artemisia.
What habitat does Artemisia annua grow in?
Artemisia annua grows in Uncommon. Disturbed sites.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · CalPhotos
Last updated 2026-10-07
Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Cal-IPC, and more.