Widespread Tansy, Tanacetum vulgare, places on a long-lasting floral show in late summer time and fall. The flat topped, yellow button like flowers are straightforward to identify, and the fernlike foliage has a particular aroma when crushed. We’ll share some identification and management suggestions, historical past, and makes use of.
Tansy Traits and Identification
Tanacetum vulgare is a perennial, sometimes rising 2-4 ft tall (60-100 cm). It spreads by way of seed and rhizome. Even a small piece of root fragment can spawn a brand new plant.
The roots kind a dense mat of shallow runners. As soon as established, it’s onerous to remove, so watch out about encouraging it the place it’d turn into a nuisance.
Flowers
The small, yellow and button-like flowers seem in summer time and fall. The little “buttons” are about 1/2″ throughout. They appear like the middle of a daisy with none white petals.
The flowers are composite, i.e. made up of many tiny flower heads. Clusters of many buttons crown the tops of the crops.
Leaves
The fern-like leaves connect in an alternating sample up the size of the stem. They vary from 4 – 8″ (10 – 20 cm) lengthy with many sharp tooth. Leaves get smaller in the direction of the highest of the stem.
The plant stem is easy, not prickly. The plant is strongly fragrant when crushed, which has led to its use as a bitter tonic and pest repellent.
The place Does Tansy Develop?
Tansy prefers dry floor in full solar and disturbed soils. It usually types dense clumps of development which show vivid yellow blasts of shade alongside the roadside.
Tansy is native to Eurasia, however is now discovered around the globe. In North America, it ranges from the arctic circle to the southern United States (see map). A number of state checklist is as a noxious weed.
Management
The plant might trigger contact dermatitis in delicate people, so put on gloves when dealing with to forestall publicity. You could hand pull small infestations, which works greatest when the crops are younger. Mowing helps scale back spreading, however don’t mow when the seeds are fluffy. That may make it unfold quicker.
The e book “When Weeds Speak” notes that Tanacetum vulgare thrives the place soil calcium and phosphorous ranges are very low. Potassium, magnesium, manganese, and copper ranges are usually excessive. Humus, porosity, and useful micro organism ranges are low.
Deal with soil well being, and weed issues enhance naturally. Attempt including gypsum for calcium, compost or humic acid, or bone meal for calcium and phosphorous.
Different Widespread Names for Tansy
Different names for Tanacetum vulgare embody:
- Wild Tansy
- Gold Leaf Tansy
- Stinking Willie
- Bitter Buttons
- Ginger Plant
- Cow Bitter
- Scented Fern (for the odor)
- Cheese (for the flowers)
- Golden Buttons
Vegetation it Could also be Confused With
This isn’t the identical plant as Artemisia vulgaris, Widespread Mugwort, which has inconspicuous flowers. Tansy Ragwort, Senecio jacobaea, is one other daisy household plant. It has yellow flowers with yellow petals.
Discovered within the Mediterranean basin, Tanacetum annuum, blue tansy is called for its blue important oil. It additionally has yellow button flowers, however the foliage is extra like evergreen needles.
Tansy Makes use of
Tansy has a historical past of use for each meals and drugs. Nonetheless, it comprises the poisonous substance thujone, which is harmful in giant doses. Don’t use whereas nursing, pregnant, or on medicines. Excessive doses might trigger miscarriage, liver and mind harm, and even demise.
The Holistic Natural suggests the usage of tansy tea for intestinal worms and rheumatism. It additionally suggests its use as a digestive support to ease abdomen upset and flatulence (as a bitter herb). Current research present tansy important oil to have robust anti-fungal and antibacterial properties.
A Fashionable Natural describes different historic makes use of. Medicinally, it was used for gout therapy and deworming, and externally for pores and skin eruptions. There’s a recipe for tansy muffins, and notes to be used as a spice and flavoring.
Insect Repellant and Preservative
Tansy’s botanical title, Tanacetum, is considered derived from the Greek phrase athanasia, which means “immortality”. Traditionally, tansy was used for embalming. It was packed in coffins, tucked in funeral wraps, and made into wreaths to adorn the lifeless.
The flowers final for a very long time after chopping, and have preservative properties. The Volga Germans used it to guard meat from flies, and it was used a strewing herb on flooring to maintain pests at bay. A research of medicinal crops of Russia notes its effectiveness in opposition to flies, lice and fleas. Powder aerial components of tansy triggered 100% paralysis in flies inside quarter-hour.
Within the backyard, it serves as a companion plant, averting frequent pests reminiscent of Colorado potato beetles. It accumulates potassium, making it a helpful addition the compost pile.
Wildlife Habitat
After I was taking images of the tansy crops, they had been gently buzzing with quite a lot of bugs. They’re standard with nectar and pollen feeders, however their bitter style retains them largely protected from foliage eaters. They are going to give an “off” style to take advantage of if consumed by cattle or goats. In its native Europe it has extra insect pests that feed on the foliage.
The Weekly Weeder Collection
This text is a part of the Weekly Weeder sequence, which shares the best way to use wild crops for meals, drugs, and extra.
Different standard articles within the sequence embody:
This text is written by Laurie Neverman. Laurie was raised on a small dairy farm in northwest Wisconsin, the place she gathered wildflowers from the woods and pastures. She and her household now dwell in northeast Wisconsin, the place they mix intentional plantings and semi-wild areas. Each season is a brand new alternative to study extra about working with wild crops.
Initially posted in 2013, final up to date in 2024.
