Tanacetum (tan-uh-SEE-tum) Common Name:  Painted daisy, tansy Light:  - Full sun to part shade Soil:  Average to loamy, well-drained Moisture:  Average in summer, slightly dry in winter Blooms:  Summer Zones:  (3) 4 - 7 (8) -*-

Tanacetum c. 'Robinson's Red' Tanacetum v. 'Isla Gold'

Tanacetum Description and Cultural Information

The genus Chrysanthemum was separated into several unique genus in 1961 so what used to be referenced as Chyrsanthemum coccineus (and sometimes as Pyrethrum) is correctly identified as Tanacetum coccineus. Although it has switched back and forth over the years, today the correct genus for different plants that used to be classified as Chrysanthemum are:

Dendranthema - garden mums
Leucanthemum - oxeye daisies, shasta daisies
Tanacetum - feverfew, painted daisies, tansy

Tanacetum coccineum, painted daisy, pyrethrum. (24 - 30") Painted daisies have ferny foliage and red, rose, or pale-pink, single or double flowers in early summer. They make excellent cut flowers and are great in floral arrangements. Zones 3 - 7.

Tanacetum parthenium, feverfew. (24") Feverfew is a popular, old-fashioned perennial with lush, aromatic foliage and profuse, single white flowers from summer to fall. Plants self sow profusely. Zones 4 - 8.

Tanacetum vulgare, tansy. (3 - 4') Dense spreading, fern-like foliage is topped with yellow flowers for a long time in summer. Be careful, this is a rapid spreader. 'Isla Gold' is a chartreuse to yellow leaf variety. Zones 4 - 8.

How to Grow:  Painted daisies prefer rich, moist but well-drained soil in full sun to part shade. They can be propagated by division however if you need extra plants, self-sown seedlings are very common. Tansy grows in average to rich, well-drained soil in full sun to part sun but because it can spread quite agressively it is best to plant Tanacetum vulgare is relatively poor soil to slow it down.

Landscape uses:  Combine early flowering painted daisies with poppies, peonies, Iris, and lupines. Plant tansy at the back of the border in an area where it can be contained and combine it with strong, sturdy, summer blooming plants such as Echinacea, Rudbeckia, and daylilies.