The Sensory Gardens are ablaze with winter colour.
Lighting the way and capturing everybody’s attention are the Kniphofia - Winter Cheer. These are also known as Red Hot Pokers or Torch Lilies due to the shape and colour (red and orange) of their inflorescences.
There are many different varieties. The leaves are reminiscent of a lily, and the flower heads can reach up to 1.52 m in height. The flowers produce copious nectar which attracts bees and birds.
Providing a wonderful backdrop for the Knipholia is the silver grey foliage of the Wormwood (Artemisia arborescens).
Artemisia is a large, diverse genus of plants and belongs to the daisy family Asteraceae. Common names for various species in the genus include mugwort, wormwood, and sagebrush.
Wormwoods have been used for medicinal, brewing, culinary and other purposes for thousands of years.
Artemisia dracunculus (tarragon) is widely used as a culinary herb.
Artemisia absinthium was used to repel fleas and moths, and as an ingredient in beer brewing. The aperitif vermouth was originally flavoured with wormwood. The highly potent spirit absinthe also contains wormwood.
Artemisia arborescens is indigenous to the Middle East and used to make tea; its leaves are usually mixed with mint.
Artemisia annua (Sweet Wormwood) a herb used in Chinese traditional medicine, is now cultivated globally as the only source of a potent anti-malarial drug, artemisinin. Treatments containing an artemisinin derivative are now standard treatment for malaria. An estimated 300 million people succumb to infection by the malaria parasite every year. Artemisinin is also a topic of research in cancer treatment.
The bitter taste of Wormwood has earned it many cultural and literary references. It is mentioned in the Jewish Bible (also known as Tanakh or Written Torah), the New Testament and in Shakespeare’s Hamlet.
The Red Hot Pokers put on a stunning display but Wormwoods are the quiet achievers.
Ian McAlister and Karen Hagan