Absinth wormwood, also known as American or common wormwood, mugwort or madder wort, and wormwood sage, is a member of the Asteraceae family.

Absinth wormwood is a herbaceous perennial with a strong sage odor. The plant is commonly 3 feet tall at maturity but can grow to over 5 feet. Leaves are 2 to 5 inches long, divided two or three times into deeply lobed leaflets and are light to olive green in color. Leaves and stems of the plant are covered with fine silky hairs that give the plant a grayish appearance. Stems are also woody at the base of the plant. Flower stalks appear at each upper leaf node and produce numerous yellow flower heads that are 1/8 inch in diameter. Absinth wormwood seed is less than 1/16 long, smooth, flat, and light gray-brown in color.

Absinth wormwood is considered a noxious weed under North Dakota state law, thus landowners are required to eradicate or control the spread of the plant.