Tansy is known for its yellow button flowers that attract pollinators to the garden.Commonly known as the tansy plant, Tanacetum vulgare can provide many benefits to your garden once you know how to grow and care for it. The yellow button-like flowers are simple, yet lovely, attracting pollinators while also being an insect repellent with a history of medicinal uses.
You can find Tanacetum vulgare growing in the wild in many places in North America. Some areas have labeled it as a noxious weed, but once you know how to prevent it from spreading, it really is an easy-to-grow perennial plant. Follow this complete tansy guide to give this beautiful plant a home in your garden.
The tansy plant is known as the common tansy and its botanical name is Tanacetum vulgare. Other common names include bitter buttons, cow bitter, and golden buttons.
The derivation of the scientific name Tanacetum vulgare is interesting. Tanacetum comes from the Greek word athanasia, which means ‘no death’ or immortal. This is because once you dry the flowers, they last for many years, and the plant can last a long time as well. This species is native to Asia and Europe, but it now grows everywhere in North America. It was brought to North America in the 1600s for its ornamental flowers. Since it spreads easily, it now grows in the wild and is known as a noxious weed in many areas. Common tansy (Tanacetum vulgare) is an herbaceous perennial that averages three to five feet tall and spreads twelve to eighteen inches. It reproduces by seeds or rhizomes, making it an aggressive grower that can easily become invasive. Tansy (Tanacetum vulgare) is often confused with the tansy ragwort (Senecio jacobaea) species, which is slightly more troublesome.
The foliage grows in a clump with multiple stems, giving the tansy plant a shrub-like appearance. The stem is reddish-brown, and the alternate leaves are fern-like. Bright yellow button-like flowers are arranged in a flat-topped cluster at the end of the stem. Crushing the flowers or foliage emits a distinct odor that is strong yet faintly like its cousin, yarrow. It makes a perfect insect repellent, but it will also attract native beneficial insects.
Tanacetum vulgare is toxic, and gloves should be worn when handling it. It does, however, have medicinal qualities and was historically used to treat parasitic worms. Nowadays, it is considered a poisonous plant that can cause death if consumed in large quantities. Many varieties of garden flowers are toxic, so don’t let this deter you from planting them in your garden!
The common tansy grows well in containers or confined within garden beds, which helps prevent it from becoming a noxious weed in your garden. On a positive note, the common tansy will repel flies and other pest-like insects. At the same time, the golden yellow flower will attract parasitic wasps and pollinators such as bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds. Since the flower can bloom from July to September, it provides plenty of food for the bees. It is poisonous to animals, so don’t allow your cattle or sheep to graze within a tansy flower patch.
The tansy is one of the easiest plants to grow in your garden. You can grow tansy in a container or in the ground, depending on how much room you have and where you live. Gardeners in MD, MN, ID, OR, WA, WI, and WY should opt for container growing, or for an alternative as this plant is an invasive species in these states.