Valerie Finnis Artemisia
Valerie Finnis Artemisia
Broad Silver-Gray Foliage That Cools the Border
Valerie Finnis Artemisia (Artemisia ludoviciana 'Valerie Finnis') is prized for its broad, jagged-edged silvery-gray leaves, a cleaner, less wispy look than many silver artemisias. A selection of our native white sage, it forms a spreading patch of cool, soft color that's superb for weaving between brighter perennials. Tough, drought-tolerant, and deer-resistant, it's an easy, eye-catching foliage plant for sunny Eden Prairie, Plymouth, and Eagan borders. Note that it spreads by runners, so give it room or edge it.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Botanical Name | Artemisia ludoviciana 'Valerie Finnis' |
| Mature Size | 18–24 in tall, spreading |
| Hardiness Zone | Zone 4–9 (hardy across most of Minnesota) |
| Light | Full sun |
| Grown For | Broad silvery-gray foliage |
| Soil | Lean, well-drained; dislikes wet soil |
| Special Traits | Deer resistant, drought tolerant, spreading |
Landscape Uses
Use Valerie Finnis as a silver weaving accent in sunny borders, prairie-style and gravel gardens, and naturalized areas where its spread is welcome. It cools hot colors and pairs beautifully with coneflowers, salvia, and grasses.
Best Time to Plant
Plant in spring or early fall in a sunny, well-drained spot. Site it where it can roam, or use an edging to contain its spread.
How to Plant
Dig a hole twice as wide as the root ball and just as deep. Set the crown level with the soil, backfill (avoid rich, heavy soil), water in, and mulch lightly. Good drainage is essential.
Watering
First Year: Water deeply once a week to establish, avoiding soggy soil.
After Year One: Little supplemental water needed; it's highly drought tolerant.
Drip Irrigation: Use sparingly; artemisia thrives on the dry side.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does it spread?
Yes, it spreads by underground runners, so give it space or contain it with edging.
Is it a native plant?
It's a selection of white sage (Artemisia ludoviciana), a North American native well suited to the region.
Is it hardy in Minnesota?
Yes, hardy to Zone 4 and reliable across most of the state.
Is it deer resistant?
Yes, the aromatic silver foliage is reliably deer-resistant.
You May Also Like
Pair Valerie Finnis with coneflowers, salvia, and grasses, or our mounding Silver Mound artemisia for a low-water, deer-resistant border.
How Many Valerie Finnis Artemisia Do I Need?
This is a spreading weaver, not a tidy clump — a few plants knit together into a silver river. Space 18–24 in. apart and let it roam, or edge it to hold a line. For a silver ribbon through a sunny border:
| Bed Run | Plants Needed (at 20 in.) |
|---|---|
| 5 ft | 3 |
| 10 ft | 6 |
| 15 ft | 9 |
| 20 ft | 12 |
Valerie Finnis Artemisia Season-by-Season in Minnesota
- Spring: Broad, jagged silvery-gray leaves emerge and quickly form a cool, spreading patch.
- Summer: Peak silver foliage cools hot-colored neighbors and shrugs off heat and drought.
- Fall: Foliage holds its silver tone late, blending with grasses and seed heads.
- Winter: Dies back to the ground; cut spent stems and it returns from the roots in spring.
At a Glance
✔ Deer-Resistant ✔ Drought-Tolerant
Plant It With
- Silver Mound Artemisia — a tidy mounding silver cousin for the front of the same dry border.
- Magnus Coneflower — purple daisies pop against the cool silver foliage.
- Little Bluestem — an upright native grass that loves the same lean, sunny ground.
- Prairie Dropseed — fine-textured native grass to soften the planting.
Is Valerie Finnis Artemisia Right for Your Yard?
It thrives in full sun and lean, well-drained soil, spreading happily in prairie-style, gravel, and naturalized beds where its runners are welcome. Not a fit if you want a stay-put clump in a small tidy bed or have rich, wet soil — it spreads by runners and resents soggy ground.