Tansy
Tanacetum vulgare

Family: Asteraceae

What it is like

A herb. It grows 90-120 cm high. It spreads 90-120 cm wide. The leaves are divided along the stalk. They look like feathers. The leaves are 12-25 cm long. The leaves are very green and have an aroma and bitter taste. The flowers are bright yellow and occur in clusters. These are about 7 mm wide and the clusters 10 cm wide. They do not have petals.

Used as a medicine. Used as an insecticide. There are about 70 Tanacetum species.

Where it is found

It is a temperate plant. It will grow in most soils. It needs an open sunny position. It suits hardiness zones 4-9.

Countries/locations it is found in

Alaska, Albania, Argentina, Armenia, Asia, Australia, Austria, Balkans, Belarus, Belgium, Bolivia, Bosnia, Brazil, Britain, Bulgaria, Canada, Caucasus, Central Asia, Chile, China, Cuba, Czech Republic, Denmark, Ecuador, Estonia, Europe (country/location of origin), Falklands, France, Greece, Hawaii, Hungary, Iceland, India, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Kazakhstan, Korea, Kyrgyzstan, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Manchuria, Mediterranean, Mongolia, Netherlands, New Zealand, North America, Norway, Pacific, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Poland, Portugal, Reunion, Romania, Russia, Scandinavia, Siberia, Sicily, Slovenia, South America, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Tasmania, Trinidad-Tobago, Turkey, Türkiye, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, Uruguay, USA, Uzbekistan, Venezuela, West Indies, Yugoslavia

How it is used for food

CAUTION: It contains toxic properties. It contains thujone. The leaves are used as flavouring in egg dishes. The fresh leaves are added to desserts. The leaves are somewhat bitter and used to flavour pastries, pies and marinade. The leaves and flowers are brewed into a bitter lemon flavoured tea. They are also added to beer.

It is used as one of the bitter herbs for Jewish passover. It is foraged and used in restaurants in Sweden. It is sold in local markets. It is cultivated.

Edible parts

Flowers - tea, leaves, herb, spice

How it is grown

Plants can be grown by seed or by division.

Its other names

Local names

Arquebuse, Bitter buttons, Golden buttons, Meghvamushk, Navadni vratič, Peilmundi, Rainfarn, Reinvars, Tanaceto, Tanaise, Tanarides, Tarkavan, Vratic

Synonyms

Chrysanthemum tanacetum Visiani; Chrysanthemum vulgare (Linnaeus) Bernhardi; Chrysanthemum vulgare (Linnaeus) Bernhardi var. boreale (Fischer ex de Candolle) Makino; Pyrethrum vulgare (Linnaeus) Boissier; Tanacetum boreale Fischer ex de Candolle; Tanacetum crispum Steudel; Tanacetum umbellatum Gilbert;