Illustration of Tanacetum parthenium by Franz Eugen Köhler in Köhler's Medizinal-Pflanzen (1887). [Public Domain]
Genus: Tanacetum
Common Names: various
Description coming soon.
Distribution: Northern Hemisphere (naturalized elsewhere)
Our Selection
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.
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 2 ft.
Tanacetum parthenium 'Aureum'
Common name(s): golden feverfew
Description: '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 2 ft.
Tanacetum parthenium 'Flore Pleno'
Common name(s): double-flowered feverfew
Description: 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.