Genus: Tanacetum

Common Names: various

Description coming soon.

Distribution: Northern Hemisphere (naturalized elsewhere)

Tanacetum balsamita

Common name(s): costmary, alecost, bible leaf

Description: a versatile perennial herb that has fallen into obscurity as of late. Native to Southern Europe and West Asia. Popular in old world herbalism and knot gardens. Strongly aromatic leaves have been dried and used as a bookmark (typically in bibles) and are said to repel silverfish and book lice. 

Height: to 6 ft. Spread: to 3 ft.

Position: full sun to partial shade and well-draining soil

Uses: medicine, culinary- used to flavor ale, potpourri, dried for bookmarks, 

Winter Hardiness: to 0 F and below

Distribution: E. Mediterranean (Cyprus, Turkey, Iran, Iraq, etc.)

Tanacetum parthenium

Common name(s): feverfew

Description: a perennial herb native to the Balkan Peninsula but naturalized in many areas; popular in traditional medicine particularly for the treatment of migraines, headaches, and you guessed it... fevers. A very low-maintenance no-fuss herb that will politely seed itself around the garden.

Height: to 30 in. Spread: to 1 ft.

Position: full sun or shade, any soil

Uses: medicine, dried bouquets, as a natural insecticide

Winter Hardiness: to 0 F and below

Drought: adapted to 4 months of summer drought

Distribution: SE Europe, SW Asia

Tanacetum parthenium 'Aureum'

Common name(s): golden feverfew

Description: perennial; a seed-grown cultivar with golden foliage that is particularly nice for brightening darker areas of the garden. T. parthenium is a perennial herb native to the Balkan Peninsula but naturalized in many areas; popular in traditional medicine particularly for the treatment of migraines, headaches, and you guessed it... fevers. A very low-maintenance no-fuss herb that will politely seed itself around the garden.

Height: to 30 in. Spread: to 1 ft.

Position: full sun or shade, any soil

Uses: medicine, dried bouquets, as a natural insecticide

Winter Hardiness: to 0 F and below

Drought: adapted to 4 months of summer drought

Tanacetum parthenium 'Flore Pleno'

Common name(s): double-flowered feverfew

Description: perennial; a seed-grown cultivar with double-flowers and more finely cut foliage than the typical form. A perennial herb native to the Balkan Peninsula but naturalized in many areas; popular in traditional medicine particularly for the treatment of migraines, headaches, and you guessed it... fevers. A very low-maintenance no-fuss herb that will politely seed itself around the garden.

Height: to 30 in. Spread: to 2 ft.

Position: full sun or partial shade

Uses: medicine, dried bouquets, as a natural insecticide

Winter Hardiness: to 0 F and below