Feverfew
Tanacetum parthenium
Also listed as Chrysanthemum parthenium, Matricaria parthenium
Also known as Common Feverfew, Feather-leaved Tansy, Featherfew
Climate Match for your location
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A delicate-looking perennial with feathery foliage and small daisy-like white or pale yellow flowers. Traditionally used in herbal medicine and attractive to pollinators.
Why grow it
Feverfew establishes readily in poor to moderately fertile soil where many ornamental perennials struggle, making it useful for filling gaps in marginal garden areas. Its fine foliage and prolific flowering provide textural contrast to coarser plants, and it self-seeds moderately, reducing replanting labor. As a long-season nectar source (summer through fall), it supports pollinators more reliably than many daisy-family ornamentals that peak earlier in the year.
Watch out for
Feverfew can spread vigorously by seed in favorable conditions and may become weedy in small or intensively managed gardens; deadheading or cutting before seed set helps contain it. Some gardeners report skin sensitivity when handling the foliage repeatedly during harvest or pruning, so brief contact is typically fine but extended work may warrant gloves. It prefers well-drained soil and can decline in persistently wet conditions, particularly over winter.
Overview
- Form
- Growth Rate
- Size
- Dormancy
- Family
- Asteraceae
Native Range
Southeastern Europe and Western Asia
Seasonality
Bloom Season
Harvest Season
Edible Parts
Season of Interest
Notable Cultivars
'Aureum' is prized for its golden foliage, while 'Plenum' produces double flowers and is often sterile, making it a longer-blooming ornamental selection.
Herb
Soft non-woody plants of the field layer.
Succession Role
Tolerances & Soil
Establishment & Care
- Establishment
- Maintenance
- Propagation
A delicate-looking perennial with feathery foliage and small daisy-like white or pale yellow flowers. Traditionally used in herbal medicine and attractive to pollinators.
Climate Match for your location
See how well Feverfew grows in your area.
Enter your ZIP code and we'll show you how this plant fits your local climate.
Why grow it
Feverfew establishes readily in poor to moderately fertile soil where many ornamental perennials struggle, making it useful for filling gaps in marginal garden areas. Its fine foliage and prolific flowering provide textural contrast to coarser plants, and it self-seeds moderately, reducing replanting labor. As a long-season nectar source (summer through fall), it supports pollinators more reliably than many daisy-family ornamentals that peak earlier in the year.
Watch out for
Feverfew can spread vigorously by seed in favorable conditions and may become weedy in small or intensively managed gardens; deadheading or cutting before seed set helps contain it. Some gardeners report skin sensitivity when handling the foliage repeatedly during harvest or pruning, so brief contact is typically fine but extended work may warrant gloves. It prefers well-drained soil and can decline in persistently wet conditions, particularly over winter.
Overview
- Form
- Growth Rate
- Size
- Dormancy
- Family
- Asteraceae
Native Range
Southeastern Europe and Western Asia
Seasonality
Bloom Season
Harvest Season
Edible Parts
Season of Interest
Herb
Soft non-woody plants of the field layer.
Succession Role
Tolerances & Soil
Establishment & Care
- Establishment
- Maintenance
- Propagation
Similar herbs you might consider:
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Companion Planting
Plants well with
Notable Cultivars
'Aureum' is prized for its golden foliage, while 'Plenum' produces double flowers and is often sterile, making it a longer-blooming ornamental selection.