Feverfew
Tanacetum parthenium
Bachelor's Buttons (Double Form), Maids, Maithes, Pale Maids, Pellitory, Common Feverfew, Feather-Leaved Tansy, Featherfew
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Feverfew is a compact perennial herb with citrus-scented leaves and small daisy-like flowers. It has traditionally been cultivated as a medicinal plant and is commonly used to prevent migraine headaches. Feverfew is also an excellent insect repellent and often planted along the edges of plant beds.
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Planning
Difficulty
Easy
Flowering time
Spring, Summer, Autumn
Fruiting time
Autumn
Harvesting
Leaves and flowers can be harvested throughout the year. Cut the feverfew when the flowers are in full bloom. Tie the feverfew bundle at its stems with some twine and hang the bundle upside down to dry it. Feverfew will dry out best in a dark, airy and dry place.
Propagation
Seed
Start by planting the seeds indoors in containers in late winter and set out the seedlings in spring. Taking them outdoors, set plants at least 30 cm apart in all directions.
Cuttings
Cuttings should be made from the young shoots that start from the base of the plant. Insert into soil during Spring while cool.
Division
To propagate by division, lift the plants whenever the roots are in an active condition. With a sharp spade, divide them into three or five fairly large pieces.
Special features
Crop rotation
Practice a three-year cycle of Feverfew crop rotation.
Repels harmful insects
Feverfew acts as a repellent in the garden and keeps mosquitoes, gnats, ticks & fleas away.
Attracts useful insects
Special features
Origin
Eurasia
Natural climate
Warm and moist
Environment
Light
Full Sun
Soil moisture
Moist
Soil type
Clay, Loam, Sand
Soil PH preference
Acid, Neutral, Alkaline
Frost hardiness
Hardy
Uses
Medicinal
Feverfew has been used as a herbal treatment to reduce fever and to treat headaches, arthritis and digestive problems.
Edible
The dried flowers can be made into a lovely tea or added to pies for an aromatic flavour.
Notes
Medicinal, insect repellant
Personality
Family
Asteraceae
Flower colour
White, Yellow
Scent
Mild
Problems
Pests include snails, slugs and the black fly. Using lime may deter them.
Related Problems
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Knowledge and advice
Search our ever-growing knowledge base to find plants and information. Find out about pests and diseases you should be keeping an eye out for. Watch How to videos or follow step by step guides for tasks in the garden.
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