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| Feverfew; Tanacetum Parthenium (L.) Schultz-Bip. |
Sunflower Family; COMPOSITÆ (ASTERACEÆ)
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| A perennial herb of evergreen, bush-like habit, Feverfew is an old-fashioned garden favorite that runs wild in many cities
including Seattle. It prefers partial shade to full sunshine, and usually grows
11/2 to
21/2 feet tall. The leaves are ferny, light green, soft and
strongly aromatic. The flowers are winsome little daisies up to an inch wide, yellow-centered, ringed white. |
| Originally from southeastern Europe and the Caucasus, Feverfew was spread by cultivation because of its supposed ability to
combat fever and serve in other medicinal capacities. Moreover, it's a pretty thing. We have a double standard of calling wild plants in the city
weeds if they're ugly and
wildflowers if handsome. |
| Certainly, Feverfew is a minor weed in some places; it reproduces madly and tolerates varied conditions. It is, on the other hand,
quite harmless, easily controlled, and, if groomed, is never unsightly. Gardeners can obtain from nurseries several ornamental Feverfew
forms, including pure white-flowered (seedless), pure yellow-flowered, and one with golden leaves. These plants are usually sold
as Chrysanthemum Parthenium varieties. However, recent study shows that Feverfew is more closely related to Tansy than to
Chrysanthemum, hence both Tansy and Feverfew share the
Tanacetum name in recent botanical literature. |
In the garden, Feverfew has value as a pest repellent, and the
heavy fragrance of its crushed foliage makes it a must for
gardens emphasizing scent. Contemporary medical use is insignificant, but the plant contains some very potent constituents; research may
reveal some of much value. Some use the tea to fight migraine headaches. To keep it flowering nearly all year, simply snip the faded flowers
and don't let summer dryness shrivel the plant.
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Originally published as the Seattle Tilth newsletter Weed of the Month in October 1988, along with an illustration drawn by Sylvan Haven.
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