a shrubby European wormwood (Artemisia abrotanum) with yellowish flowers and fragrant leaves
Origin:
ME suthernewode < OE sutherne wudu: it is native to southern Europe
See southernwood in American Heritage Dictionary 4
noun
An aromatic southern European shrubby woody plant (Artemisia abrotanum) having finely divided grayish foliage and globose, nodding, creamy-white flower heads. Also called old man.