Tansy Tanacetum vulgare
Other Common Name(s):
- Phonetic Spelling
- tan-ah-SAY-tum vul-GAR-ay
- This plant has high severity poison characteristics.
- See below
- This plant is an invasive species in North Carolina
- Description
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Invasive perennial herb, classified as a noxious weed in certain U.S. locations. Not recommended for planting. Aggressively self-seeds and its spreading rhizomes can be weedy and difficult to remove. It is very common in disturbed areas.
Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: Spider mites can be a problem in some areas.
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Herb & Flower Cottage Garden
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:














- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Tanacetum
- Species:
- vulgare
- Family:
- Asteraceae
- Uses (Ethnobotany):
- It was brought to the US for its medicinal purposes and its use ass an insect repellent. Flowers were used in funeral shrouds and for crafts.
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Eurasia
- Dimensions:
- Height: 3 ft. 0 in. - 4 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 2 ft. 0 in. - 3 ft. 0 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Herbaceous Perennial
- Poisonous
- Weed
- Habit/Form:
- Clumping
- Growth Rate:
- Rapid
- Maintenance:
- High
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 3a, 3b, 4b, 4a, 5b, 5a, 6b, 6a, 7a, 7b, 8b, 8a
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Gold/Yellow
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Corymb
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Fragrant
- Showy
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Summer
- Flower Shape:
- Radial
- Flower Petals:
- more than 20 petals/rays
- Flower Size:
- 1-3 inches
- Flower Description:
- Flower heads in tight composite corymbs, yellow from July to August.
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Leaves:
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Leaf Value To Gardener:
- Fragrant
- Leaf Type:
- Compound (Pinnately , Bipinnately, Palmately)
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Alternate
- Leaf Margin:
- Lobed
- Serrate
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- > 6 inches
- Leaf Description:
- Leaves are aromatic; fern-like alternate, pinnately lobed and appearing divided, with narrow, toothed segments. 6"-8" long.
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Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Green
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Naturalized Area
- Design Feature:
- Border
- Mass Planting
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Deer
- Drought
- Erosion
- Problems:
- Invasive Species
- Poisonous to Humans
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Poisonous to Humans:
- Poison Severity:
- High
- Poison Symptoms:
- Dried leaves have been used to make teas but current uses of this plant in teas, food and medicine are almost non-existant. Thujone can be fatal in large quantities.
- Poison Toxic Principle:
- thujone
- Causes Contact Dermatitis:
- No
- Poison Part:
- Leaves