Tanacetum parthenium
Common Name(s):
Previously known as:
- Chrysanthemum parthenium
- Matricaria parthenium
- Phonetic Spelling
- tan-ah-SAY-tum par-THEN-ee-um
- This plant has low severity poison characteristics.
- See below
- Description
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Feverfew is a mounding aromatic herbaceous perennial. The flowers are clusters of white florets with a central yellow disc. They make wonderful cut flowers since the flowerheads are long-lasting. They may also be dried and used in dried floral arrangements. They bloom from June to September. They grow in clumping mounds, erect, and about 1-3 feet tall and 1-2 feet wide. This species is self-seeding and may become aggressive in optimum conditions. Feverfew is a member of the Asteraceae or Aster family. Other common names include Bachelor's Buttons, Maids, Manzanilla, and Wild Chamomile. There are several cultivars.
The plant is native to southeastern Europe, Central Asia, and West Himalayas. The genus name, Tanacetum, is derived from the Greek word, "Athanasia," which means "immortal." The species name, parthenium, is about the Greek Parthenon. Reportedly, this plant was used medicinally in the 5th century to treat a construction worker who fell while working on the Parthenon.
Feverfew prefers full sun to partial shade and well-drained, moist soils. They are tolerant of all pH levels and will grow in sandy, loamy, or high organic matter. It is best to deadhead or shear off spent blooms immediately to control self-seeding.
The leaves are green, fern-like, and have a strong scent. Depending on the cultivar, the flowers are daisy-like to rounded balls and are arranged in corymbs. The outer petal rays are white to creamy colored with a button-like yellow center.
Feverfew attracts butterflies, hummingbirds, and bees. They are drought tolerant and deer resistant.
The plant may be used in naturalized areas, meadows, cutting gardens, cottage gardens, or rock gardens. Consider Feverfew for a patio area or as a container plant. In the past, the English planted Feverfew around their home for the spicy scent and to purify the air.
Quick ID Hints:
- The foliage is green, feathery, fern-like, and pinnately lobed with hairy undersides
- The flowers are open daisy-like to rounded balls, white to creamy colored petals with a yellow center disc
- The stems are erect, branched, pubescent distally, and glabrous proximally
Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems:
There are no serious diseases or pest problems. Please monitor for spider mites. They are intolerant to the hot and humid climate of the southern United States.
The Clemson Cooperative Extension Home & Garden Information Center has a factsheet on common pests and diseases.
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- 'Aureum'
Golden leaves, white flower, 12 inches tall - 'Crown White'
Pure white, minute buttons, 28 inches tall - 'Golden Ball'
Double creamy yellow bloom, 12-18 inches tall - 'Rowallane'
Pure white, button shaped, 14 inches tall - 'Ultra Double White'
Double white flower, cut flower popular with florist, 24 inches tall - 'White Bonnet'
White blooms, 18 inches tall
- 'Aureum'
- 'Aureum', 'Crown White', 'Golden Ball', 'Rowallane', 'Ultra Double White', 'White Bonnet'
- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- 'Aureum'
Golden leaves, white flower, 12 inches tall - 'Crown White'
Pure white, minute buttons, 28 inches tall - 'Golden Ball'
Double creamy yellow bloom, 12-18 inches tall - 'Rowallane'
Pure white, button shaped, 14 inches tall - 'Ultra Double White'
Double white flower, cut flower popular with florist, 24 inches tall - 'White Bonnet'
White blooms, 18 inches tall
- 'Aureum'
- 'Aureum', 'Crown White', 'Golden Ball', 'Rowallane', 'Ultra Double White', 'White Bonnet'
- Tags:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Tanacetum
- Species:
- parthenium
- Family:
- Asteraceae
- Uses (Ethnobotany):
- Feverfew has been a folk remedy since at least the first century.
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Division
- Seed
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Southeastern Europe to Central Asia and West Himalaya
- Distribution:
- Native: Afghanistan, Albania, Bulgaria, East Aegean Island, Greece, Iran, Iraq, Krym, North Caucasus, Pakistan, Transcaucasus, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, West Himalaya, and Yugoslavia; Introduced: Algeria, Argentina, Austria, Azores, Baleares, Baltic States, Belarus, Belgium, Bolivia, Borneo, Brazil, British Columbia, Chile, China, Colombia, Corse, Costa Rica, Cuba, Czechoslovakia, Denmark, Dominican Republic, Russia, Ecuador, Ethiopia, France, Germany, Great Britain, Guatemala, Honduras, Hungary, Mongolia, Ireland, Italy, Kazakhstan, Lebanon, Malay, Mexico, New Zealand, Norway, Ontario, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Philipines, Poland, Portugal, Queensland, Romania, South Australia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Tadzhikistan, Tasmania, Tibet, Uruguay, Venezuela, Victoria, Western Australia, and US: AL, CT, DE, ID, IL, IN, KY, ME, MD, MA, MI, MS, MO, MT, NV, NH, NJ, NY, NC, OH, OR, PA, RI, SC, UT, VT, WA, WV, WI, and WY
- Wildlife Value:
- Feverfew attracts butterflies, hummingbirds, and bees.
- Play Value:
- Attractive Flowers
- Attracts Pollinators
- Edibility:
- Edible leaves can make tea.
- Dimensions:
- Height: 1 ft. 0 in. - 3 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 1 ft. 0 in. - 2 ft. 0 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Perennial
- Habit/Form:
- Clumping
- Mounding
- Growth Rate:
- Rapid
- Maintenance:
- Low
- Medium
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
- Soil Texture:
- High Organic Matter
- Loam (Silt)
- Sand
- Soil pH:
- Acid (<6.0)
- Alkaline (>8.0)
- Neutral (6.0-8.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Moist
- Available Space To Plant:
- Less than 12 inches
- 12 inches-3 feet
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b
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Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Fall
- Fruit Length:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Width:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Description:
- The center disk of the flower becomes a head of dry, brown seeds. The seeds are ribbed and measure 1-2 mm long. The plant is self-seeding and can be aggressive.
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Gold/Yellow
- White
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Corymb
- Head
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Showy
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Summer
- Flower Petals:
- 7 - 20 petals/rays
- Flower Size:
- < 1 inch
- Flower Description:
- The flowers are small, daisy-like. They measure 3/4 inches in diameter. There are 10-30 petals that have 3 small teeth at the tip. The petals are white, and the center disks are yellow and button-like. The flowers are arranged in corymbs. Depending on the cultivar, the flower may be an open daisy or rounded ball.
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Leaves:
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Leaf Feel:
- Soft
- Leaf Value To Gardener:
- Fragrant
- Leaf Type:
- Compound (Pinnately , Bipinnately, Palmately)
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Alternate
- Leaf Shape:
- Cuneate
- Oblong
- Ovate
- Leaf Margin:
- Dentate
- Lobed
- Hairs Present:
- Yes
- Leaf Length:
- 3-6 inches
- Leaf Width:
- 3-6 inches
- Leaf Description:
- The leaves are green and mostly cauline. They measure 1.5 to greater than 4 inches long and 0.5 to 2.5 inches wide. They are fern-like and have a strong scent. The margins are toothed. The base of the leaf is cuneate. The leaf blade is ovate with the widest area below the middle of the leaf and tapering at both ends. The undersides of the leaf are slightly hairy. The leaves lowest on the stem are the largest.
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Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Green
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Cross Section:
- Round
- Stem Surface:
- Hairy (pubescent)
- Stem Description:
- The stems are green, erect, and branched. The flowering stem is pubescent distally and glabrous proximally. The cross-section of the stem is circular.
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Container
- Meadow
- Naturalized Area
- Patio
- Landscape Theme:
- Cottage Garden
- Cutting Garden
- Rock Garden
- Design Feature:
- Border
- Mass Planting
- Attracts:
- Bees
- Butterflies
- Hummingbirds
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Deer
- Drought
- Problems:
- Contact Dermatitis
- Problem for Cats
- Problem for Dogs
- Problem for Horses
- Weedy
