Originating in southeastern Europe (the specific name refers to the Pontus area on the shores of the Black Sea[1]), it is naturalized over much of Eurasia from France to Xinjiang, and is also found in the wild in northeastern North America.

It grows as a rhizomatous perennial with erect stems up to 100 centimetres (39 in) tall; the grey foliage is finely divided and aromatic.

Flowers are small, yellowish, and appear in loose panicles at stem tips.

[5] The essential oil contains cineol, camphor, thujone, and borneol among other components.

[8] The English botanist John Hill, in his Virtues of British Herbs, says about this plant: "The Wormwood wine so famous with the Germans, is made with Roman Wormwood, put into the juice, and work’d with it : it is a strong and an excellent wine, not unpleasant, yet of such efficacy to give an appetite, that the Germans drink a glass with every other mouthful, and that way eat for hours together, without sickness or indigestion".