Mugwort: Ecosystem Disruptor

Mugwort is an invasive perennial found throughout North America. It is native to Europe and eastern Asia and was historically used as a medicinal herb that is believed to be introduced to the continent by Jesuit missionaries in the 16th century. 

Mugwort emerges in the spring and flowers in the late summer and early fall. A single Mugwort plant can produce up to 200,000 seeds however, seed dispersal isn’t considered the main contributor to spread. Mugwort generally spreads through the expansion of its shallow root system and branching rhizomes. 

Larger populations of Mugwort can displace native species as well as disrupt the natural succession of a given ecosystem. The pollen from Mugwort is also considered a common cause of hay fever.