California mugwort is a western North American perennial herbaceous aromatic plant. The plant prefers direct sunlight and moist soils, but tolerates shady areas and dry soils. Mugwort helps to stabilize banks and it best propagates from its root source. Its seeds are foraged by a variety of native birds and its leaves are used as nesting material by some native bees. Mugwort is used by Native American tribes as a medicinal plant to relieve joint pain and headaches, and to treat abrasions and rashes (including poison oak). It is also used to treat women's reproductive issues, including irregular menstruation and occasionally used as an abortifacient.