I love tansy (Tanacetum vulgare). I love its ferny foliage and its cheery yellow flowers. I love that it spreads all over my garden. You say “invasive”, I say “free plants!” I love that it is so tough that it will grow almost anywhere so I can use it to fill in those spots where nothing else will grow.
Tansy is native to temperate Eurasia (Europe and Asia). It has been grown and used throughout history. The ancient Greeks were the first to grow it for its medicinal properties. In the Middle Ages, it was used as a strewing herb thanks to its insect repellent properties. Later it was used in Lenten cakes to commemorate the bitter herbs eaten by the Israelites. The flavor is quite bitter.
Tansy has long been considered necessary in herb gardens because of its versatility. It was among the plants that colonists brought with them to the New World. It then escaped from their gardens and became naturalized in the landscape. Tansy has been used to treat worms, induce abortions, repel insects, and to prevent food spoilage. It was also used as a dye, producing a green color. It has even been used in burials to preserve bodies. Alas, modern research has not confirmed any real medicinal value for the plants.
In modern times it is used in companion planting. It is very effective in repelling the Colorado Potato beetle. The dried foliage is placed along baseboards keeps ants out of the home. In the fall, cut down the plant to the ground and toss it into your compost to add potassium. During the growing season, you make a compost tea from leaves to fertilize your houseplants. Tansy flowers can be dried and used in floral arrangements.
Tansy is considered a toxic plant. Do not handle the plants if you are pregnant because it can cause a miscarriage. Do not plant it where children or pets can reach it. If eaten, emergency medical treatment is required. It can also cause contact dermatitis resulting in a rash so you may want to wear gloves when handling it.
Tansy is a perennial plant hardy in US growing zones 4 through 8. It grows in clumps which expand in size each year. Mature plants reach three feet or more in height. My own plant grows to five feet in height. The leaves are dark green and look like ferns. The flowers bloom in clusters and look like yellow buttons. Bloomtime is July and August. Once established, the plants spread via underground runners as well by reseeding themselves in your garden. Keep them deadheaded to prevent them from reseeding all over your garden. Tansy prefers a sunny spot, but can tolerate some shade. It requires very little care and will grow in most garden soils. It is drought tolerant and disease resistant. The perfect weed!
Most gardeners purchase tansy as plants. But if you have a large clump that you would like to share, you should divide it in the spring.
Tansy is easily grown from seed. You can sow the seeds in your garden after your last frost. Surface sow only. Do not cover the seeds. They need sunlight to germinate. Germination should occur in 3 to 4 weeks once the soil temperature reaches 68⁰F.
Tansy has had a place in our gardens for centuries. No longer used medicinally, it is still important for its insect repellent qualities and use in dried floral arrangements. And some of us grow it simply for its beauty.
11 Comments on “Tansy”
I started with a bay, ramrsoey, thyme, sage, oregano, chives, rocket, mint (keep contained), lemon balm and lavender, they all have been with me for years with minimal maintenance, and the 1st 4 I find handy for cooking even in winter. Parsley will go to seed if too dry, and in its 2nd year. I add more every summer and now have Rue, Hyssop, Vervain, Clary Sage, Savoury, Bergamot (nice flower too), Heartsease Pansy, Evening Primrose, St. John’s Wort, Lovage, Comfrey, Nasturtium and garlic chives. Have planted all ornamentally.And am saving a fortune not having to buy in shops! good luck, read labels in garden shops for ideas and get a book.
I enjoyed your article on tansy im just started getting into herbs a few years ago i have alot to learn thanks
Hi Jill! Hope you find my site helpful in getting started with your herb garden. Email me any time if you have questions.
Thanks!
Hi! What a lovely article!
I just received seeds from this plant as a gift and I have no idea on how to grow it – how large should the container be? I have my plants in a terrace as I live in an apartment.
Also, I live in Buenos Aires (Argentina), it seems I have to wait until September (Spring) to have a suitable temperature for the seeds to germinate.
It should be a very large container, at least 24 inches, because tansy is a very large plant. It also sends out underground runners, so your pot will fill very quickly. I don’t recommend trying to grow this one in a container but I won’t discourage you from trying!
I’m amazed by how tall tansy grew in my front and back yard; both are in large raised beds. One of them I had to transplant in the middle of spring to another location because of its size. So, I will be cutting the blossoms and drying them for future use. I’m glad to have read this article as I did not know that I need protection to handle it and that I need to warn my grandchildren to stay away from it. Can you provide a recipe on how to make an insect repellent from the plant? Thank you.
I replaced my mint problem with a tansy “problem”. I had a really hard time getting rid of the mint planted along the side of the house I bought – luckily between sidewalk and house so it could not spread further. I planted tansy and the tansy has won.
I transferred tansies that were getting out of control in their long box to a partial-shade section of the garden we called the ‘death zone.’ No matter what we planted there, the plants died. The tansies, though, are a splendid exception — they are flourishing. Of course they have the whole area to themselves — nothing else will grow. But these tansies are doing wonderfully, adding lots of leafy green foliage to a bare area right where the eye lands as one looks out on the garden.
I have been looking for Tansy plants in my area and nobody knows what it is. Do you have a source to purchase a plant or two? I would like to get some started for keeping insects like ants, spiders and mice away from my home. Is it true that bees and birds love this plant.
Check out local herb sales or you can order seed from Amazon or EBay. Tansy Tansy is easy to grow from seed.