Southernwood (Artemisia abrotanum) is a flowering plant. Found in Europe and Great Britain, the genus Artemisia was named for the Goddess Artemis. Southernwood is known by many other names including Old Man, Boy's Love, Oldman Wormwood, Lover's Plant, Appleringie, Garderobe, Our Lord's Wood, Maid's Ruin, Garden Sagebrush, European Sage, Lad's Love, Southern Wormwood, and Lemon Plant.

The plant is related to Wormwood and other members of the genus Artemisia. It has a strong camphor-like odour and is an ingredient in the popular liqueur known as Absente. Southernwood was historically used as an air freshener or strewing herb.

It forms a small bushy shrub, which is widely cultivated by gardeners. The grey-green leaves are small, narrow and feathery. The small flowers are yellow. It can be propagated by cuttings or by division of the roots.

Southernwood encourages menstruation (Nicholas Culpeper 1653), is antiseptic and kills intestinal worms. It was used to treat liver, spleen and stomach problems. It is seldom used medicinally today, except in Germany, where poultices are placed on wounds, splinters and skin conditions and it is employed occasionally to treat frostbite. Its constituents have been shown to stimulate the gallbladder and bile, which improves digestion and liver functions. The leaves are mixed with other herbs in aromatic baths and is said to counter sleepiness. An infusion of the leaves is said to work as a natural insect repellent when applied to the skin or if used as a hair rinse is said to combat dandruff.

uses: culinary and medicinal (gyógy- és fűszernövény)