Tanacetum vulgare Tansy (Compositae)

Browse Plants Articles

Power Search!

Browse Botanic Names

Sponsored By KhorWills

Tanacetum vulgare
Tansy
(1 Page of 5)

The Tanacetum vulgare plant species is found in Britain. It is a member of the Compositae family. Common gardeners may know the plant as Tansy. Some home gardeners know the variety as T. aubiderti. Chrysanthemum vulgare. C. tanacetum.

Cultivation | Propagation | General Uses
Medicinal | Edible Uses

Latin Name:  Tanacetum vulgare
Common Name:  Tansy
Family:  Compositae
Author:  L.

Known Hazards:  The plant is poisonous if large quantities are ingested[20, 21, 76]. There have been cases of death in N. America from drinking strong brews of the tea, presumably as an abortifacient[207].

Mature Height:  1   Mature Width:  1.5

Habitat:  A common plant of waste ground, hedgerows etc[17].

General Uses: A green dye is obtained from the young shoots[4, 115]. The leaves and flowers can also be used and a yellow can also be obtained[169]. The plant is used as a strewing herb in cellars, churches etc in order to repel insects[4, 14, 20, 61, 201, 238]. Both the growing and the dried plant are said to repel flies, ants and fleas, especially if they are mixed with elder leaves (Sambucus spp.)[4, 12, 14, 18, 200, 201]. The leaves and the flowering shoots contain 0.15% of an essential oil that contains camphor, borneol and thujone[7, 213]. Both the leaves and the oil and they have been used to kill fleas and lice[213]. Thujone is an effective insecticide, but it is highly toxic to mammals when taken in excess[238]. The plant is a good addition to the compost heap, being valued for its mineral content[200].

For further Tanacetum vulgare gardening information
click on one of the blue links below

Cultivation | Propagation | General Uses
Medicinal | Edible Uses

The information above has been supplied solely via the hard work and dedication of the team at 'Plants for a Future'.
View their bibliography
Useful Edible Plants Future