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Tanacetum parthenium (Feverfew)

Feverfew, Maids, Pale Maids, Pellitory, Bachelor's Buttons, Maithes, Matricaria parthenium, Chrysanthemum parthenium

Feverfew, Maids, Pale Maids, Pellitory, Bachelor's Buttons, Maithes, Matricaria Parthenium, Chrysanthemum Parthenium
Feverfew, Maids, Pale Maids, Pellitory, Bachelor's Buttons, Maithes, Matricaria Parthenium, Chrysanthemum Parthenium

Eye-catching, Feverfew (Tanacetum parthenium) is a vigorous short-lived perennial that will light up your garden beds from mid to late summer with its prolific blooms of attractive, small, white flower heads atop a fragrant, evergreen, lacy foliage. Allowing some seeding will keep this lovely plant in the garden.

  • Flowers vary in form, from open daisies to rounded balls (depending on cultivars) and last several weeks.
  • Tanacetum parthenium grows in strongly aromatic, bushy, rounded clumps of erect branched stems, up to 40 in. tall (100 cm) and 24 in. wide (60 cm), with finely divided, fernlike foliage. Evergreen in mild climates, its lovely foliage will add some winter interest to the border.
  • A full sun lover, it enjoys humus-rich, moist and well-drained soils. Drought tolerant too!
  • Tanacetum parthenium is highly versatile and is an ideal addition to beds, borders, rock gardens, cottage gardens or naturalized areas (where it can self-seed freely). This is a great edging plant.
  • Excellent as fresh cut flowers or in dried arrangements.
  • Promptly shear off spent flowers in order to control undesired self-seeding.
  • Main Tanacetum parthenium varieties are:
    White Bonnet‘ with white blooms. 18 in. tall (45 cm)
    Golden Ball‘ with double, creamy yellow flowers. 12-18 in. tall (30-45 cm)
    Crown White‘ with pure white, minute buttons in densely borne head. 28 in. tall (70 cm)
    Ultra Double White‘ with fully double white flowers, a great variety for cut flowers that is highly popular with florists. 24 in. tall (60 cm)
    Rowallane‘ with pure white, button-shaped flowers. 14 in. tall (35 cm)
    Aureum‘, a highly popular golden-leaved variety with smaller sprays of white flowers. 12 in. tall (30 cm)

Requirements

Hardiness 4 - 9
Heat Zones 1 - 9
Climate Zones 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
Plant Type Perennials
Plant Family Compositae
Genus Tanacetum
Common names Maids, Feverfew
Exposure Full Sun
Season of Interest Summer (Mid, Late)
Height 3' - 4'
(90cm - 120cm)
Spread 1' - 2'
(30cm - 60cm)
Spacing 18" - 24"
(50cm - 60cm)
Maintenance Average
Water Needs Average
Soil Type Loam, Sand
Soil pH Acid, Alkaline, Neutral
Soil Drainage Well-Drained
Characteristics Dried Arrangements, Cut Flowers, Fragrant, Showy
Tolerance Drought, Deer
Attracts Butterflies, Hummingbirds
Garden Uses Beds And Borders, Edging, Patio And Containers
Garden Styles City and Courtyard, Prairie and Meadow, Informal and Cottage
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Alternative Plants to Consider

Tanacetum niveum (Silver Tansy)
Tanacetum cinerariifolium (Pyrethrum Daisy)
Tanacetum coccineum ‘Robinson’s Red’ (Painted Daisy)
Tanacetum vulgare (Tansy)
Tanacetum parthenium ‘Aureum’ (Golden Feverfew)
Tanacetum coccineum (Painted Daisy)

Recommended Companion Plants

Centranthus ruber (Red Valerian)
Lychnis coronaria (Rose Campion)
Rosa Golden Celebration (English Rose)
Allium schoenoprasum (Chives)
Nepeta racemosa ‘Walker’s Low’ (Catmint)
Alchemilla mollis (Lady’s Mantle)
Allium cristophii (Star of Persia)
Allium ‘Gladiator’ (Ornamental Onion)
Hakonechloa macra (Hakone Grass)
Campanula lactiflora (Milky Bellflower)

Find In One of Our Guides or Gardens

Native Plant Alternatives to Tanacetum vulgare (Tansy)
While every effort has been made to describe these plants accurately, please keep in mind that height, bloom time, and color may differ in various climates. The description of these plants has been written based on numerous outside resources.
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Requirements

Hardiness 4 - 9
Heat Zones 1 - 9
Climate Zones 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
Plant Type Perennials
Plant Family Compositae
Genus Tanacetum
Common names Maids, Feverfew
Exposure Full Sun
Season of Interest Summer (Mid, Late)
Height 3' - 4'
(90cm - 120cm)
Spread 1' - 2'
(30cm - 60cm)
Spacing 18" - 24"
(50cm - 60cm)
Maintenance Average
Water Needs Average
Soil Type Loam, Sand
Soil pH Acid, Alkaline, Neutral
Soil Drainage Well-Drained
Characteristics Dried Arrangements, Cut Flowers, Fragrant, Showy
Tolerance Drought, Deer
Attracts Butterflies, Hummingbirds
Garden Uses Beds And Borders, Edging, Patio And Containers
Garden Styles City and Courtyard, Prairie and Meadow, Informal and Cottage
How Many Plants
Do I Need?
Explore Great Plant Combination Ideas
Tanacetum
Guides with
Tanacetum
Not sure which Tanacetum to pick?
Compare Now

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