Tanacetum

( tan - ass - SEET - um )

At-A-Glance Information

This genus, commonly referred to as Tansy or Feverfew, includes flowering perennial species that need full sun and moderate to regular water to perform well. Many species of Tanacetum have fragrant, finely divided leaves, and some have beautiful grey to white foliage. They are native to many areas in the Northern Hemisphere

Tanacetum Species and Varietals

The genus Tanacetum is a member of the plant family Asteraceae and includes around 160 species of flowering plants. The genus name Tanacetum means 'immortality' in botanical Latin, referring to its use in between burial sheets to repel vermin. The best growing zones for Tanacetum vary depending on the species. For more information, see the descriptions below. To find your zone, click here: Zone Map.

Tanacetum balsamita (Chrysanthemum balsamita) (Costmary)
This perennial species, native from Europe to Central Asia, grows best in zones 2-24. Foliage is sweet-scented and is used in salads and sachets. Stems reach three feet tall and are topped with tiny daisies. Divide clumps and replant divisions in late summertime or autumn.

Tanacetum camphoratum (Camphor Tansy, Dune Tansy)
Native to the Pacific Coast of North America, these plants prefer to grow in sand dunes and other rocky coastal habitats. Foliage is hairy and smells like camphor. Leaves are green and freathery, and flowers are yellow.

Tanacetum coccineum (Chrysanthemum coccineum, Pyrethrum roseum) (Pyrethrum, Painted Daisy)
This perennial species grows well in zones A1 and 1-24, and is native to Iran and the Caucasus. It forms a small bush 2-3 feet tall and 1.5 feet wide. Flowers are pink, red or white and bloom in springtime. Varieties come in double and anemone flowered forms. Great as cut flowers. Sow seeds or divide clumps in springtime. This species needs summer heat to bloom well.

'Brenda'

'Eileen May Robinson'

'James Kelway'

'Mont Blanc'

'Mrs. James Kelway'

'Robinson's Red'

Tanacetum densum amani (Chrysanthemum haradjanii)
This species, native to Turkey, grows best in zones 3-24. It spreads slowly to create a mat of feathery white foliage 6-8 inches tall and 1.5 feet wide. Flower heads are yellow and small, and appear in springtime. This species is wonderful in rock gardens or as a small-scale groundcover. It appreciates good drainage and a fair amount of sun during the day. Can be drought tolerant once established.

Tanacetum parthenium (Chrysanthemum parthenium) (Feverfew)
This species of Tanacetum is a perennial native to southern Europe and the Caucasus, and grows best in zones 2-24. It spreads aggressively by volunteer seedlings, and has a peppery scent to it. This plant will attract beneficial insects to your garden, and many 1-3 foot tall varieties are available, including: 'Golden Ball' (with bright yellow rayless flower heads), 'Silver Ball' (double flowering), and 'Aureum (with chartreuse foliage).

Tanacetum ptarmiciflorum (Chrysanthemum ptarmiciflorum) (Dusty Miller, Silver Lace Bush)
This perennial is best in zones 16, 17, and 19-24 and is grown as an annual elsewhere. It is native to the Canary Islands and reaches 10 inches tall and just as wide. Foliage is silvery and summer flowers are white. Somewhat drought tolerant.

Tanacetum vulgare (Tansy, Common Tansy, Cow Bitter, Golden Buttons)
This species is native to Europe and grows best in zones 1-24; it is a weedy garden plant that reaches 3 feet tall and 2 feet wide. Foliage is bright green and flowers are yellow, blooming in late summertime. Thin clumps yearly to prevent invasiveness. Varieties include 'Isla Gold' (with golden-yellow foliage) and Tanacetum vulgare crispum (commonly called Fern-Leaf Tansy, this plant reaches 2.5 feet tall and is more aesthetically pleasing than the species).

Caring for Tanacetum

Tanacetum, or Tansy, can be purchased as seeds or as specimens or starts from a reputable nursery. They grow best when planted in a space that receives full sun. Ideally, Tansy flowers like to get between 6 and 8 hours of sun each day for best performance and flowering. Ensure that soil is well-draining, rich in nutrients, and has a pH of between 6.0 and 7.0 (slightly acidic to neutral). If local soils are particularly poor in nutrients or do not drain well, make sure to amend the planting area with plenty of organic compost before installing. Apply a layer of mulch around the planting area to suppress weed growth, maintain consistent soil temperatures, and to increase soil moisture retention. Water new plantings regularly as they establish a strong root system in their new home. At maturity, Tansy is somewhat drought tolerant, able to get by on rainwater for most of the year with supplemental irrigations during times of dry weather. As a general rule of thumb, water about once a week during the dry season.

Fertilize yearly in early springtime with an application of 2 inches of compost around the base of plants. Pull mulch back before applying, work the compost gently into the soil a bit, water it in, and then replace mulch. These plants are not heavy feeders, and this should be sufficient to provide the necessary nutrients for the active growing and flowering seasons. Pruning is simple; remove any damaged, diseased, or dead foliage at any time during the growing season, and remove spent flower spikes to neaten up the appearance of plants and encourage reblooms. Plants may need to be divided every few years, especially if they are grown in a cramped space or container. For information on how to successfully divide Tanacetum plants, see the Propagation section below.

Propagation

Tanacetum, or Tansy, can be propagated by division seed. To ensure that your propagated plant will have the exact same qualities and characteristics as the parent plant, use the division method. If you would like to experiment and see what plant you can grow from seed, just keep in mind that it will not necessarily be the same as the parent plant, especially if you are propagating a hybrid cultivar. To propagate your Tanacetum, follow the instructions below:

Propagating Tanacetum by Seed

Keep in mind that the plant you get from seed will not necessarily mimic all of the characteristics of the parent plant. To propagate by seed, you will need a paper bag, a pot or tray filled with well-draining compost or other organic material, a spray bottle and a fork. If you don't have any potting medium on hand, you can make some. Just mix together equal parts (by volume) moss peat and horticultural-grade sand or grit sand. You will also, after a few weeks, need individual 3-inch pots for each seedling that grows.
Harvest your seeds. The seed heads on plants are pretty easy to spot, they're left behind after flowers have faded. Once they have dried out and begun to split open, you can harvest the seeds inside. Cut them off of the plant, placing them in a paper bag. Harvest as many as you can, and place the paper bag in a dry, cool, dark area. They will continue to split open and release the seeds contained inside. Once they have been released, take them out of the bag and put them in a container so you can work with them.
Get your container prepared. Water your prepared seed tray or pot filled with soil, and ensure that good drainage is occurring. Place your seeds in your prepared pot or seed tray about a quarter inch to a half-inch under the soil surface. Cover them with soil and water with your spray bottle. Place your tray of seeds in a warm area that receives bright, indirect light. A greenhouse is the most ideal climate, but a planting tray inside a window will do as well. Germination usually takes 2-6 weeks from sowing. Once you begin to see seedlings sprout and they are able to be handled, transplant them to their own individual 3-inch pots, filled with the same potting medium as described in Step 1. Loosen the seedlings from the potting medium by digging down with the tines of your fork about an inch and a half, gently working the seedling up until it is out. Then, replant the seedling in its individual pot.
Keep the seedling's potting medium moist, but not wet, by spraying the soil with your spray bottle. Keep your new plant in an area with bright light (though not direct sunlight) and temperatures between 65 and 72 degrees Fahrenheit. Ensure that the soil stays moist, but not wet, until the next spring (after the danger of frost has passed), when you can transplant it to its new home.

Propagating Tanacetum by Division
This type of propagation is relatively simple; you will need a clean shovel, mulch, fresh soil (any kind will do, though it does need to be well-draining), compost and pots (only necessary if you will be saving divided plants for transporting elsewhere). Division is best done in very early spring (after the plant has entered dormancy, but before it has begun its new spring growth), and needs to be done every few years regardless of whether you have the goal of propagating the plants for best performance. To propagate by division, follow these steps:

Using a shovel, dig up your existing plant. Start from the outside and work your way in to avoid damaging the root(s). Once you have worked it up out of the ground, lay it out.
Start to tease apart the roots with your gloved fingers. Once the roots are untangled, separate your plant into segments, ensuring that each one has at least one thick root section attached.
Prepare your pot(s) or new planting site(s) with amended, well-draining soil. You can either bring in new soil or simply amend your existing soil with compost to complete this task. Then, plant your divisions and water thoroughly.
Apply a thick layer of mulch over the new planting to protect it from cold weather as it acclimates to its new home. Then, enjoy watching it sprout in the next growing season.

Problems and Pests

Tanacetum, or Tansy, plants are considered resilient, though they can be susceptible to developing issues with the following pests and diseases in the landscape from time to time: