PlantFiles: Tansy
Tanacetum vulgare

This plant is listed on the Minnesota DNR invasive list.
"Ecological Threat:
Common tansy is wide spread across most northern United States and Canadian provinces.
It is still cultivated in gardens and is common along roadsides and abandoned farmyards in northern Minnesota and along the north shore of Lake Superior. South sloping open areas are most vulnerable.
It was introduced to the United States from Europe for medicinal and horticultural purposes.
Common tansy is on the MDA Secondary noxious weeds list in Minnesota. "

I have this plant growing in a pot near an arbor. Because it likes to flop when it reaches 4 feet or more, I have a hyacinth Bean Vine wrapped around it holding it up. The yellow button flowers blooming alongside the purple hyacinth bean vine flowers is a divine combo!

This plant is listed on the North Dakota invasive/troublesome list and this information is being distributed in a guide developed by the ND Weed Control Association and other agencies.

Plant Features
Perennial, bushy, fern-like, 1 to 6 feet tall
Dark green leaves divided into several smaller leaves (leaflets), edges toothed
Stems purplish red
Flat-topped flower clusters on the end of stems
Blooms July through October
Button-like flowers 1/2 inch wide, yellowish gold, lack petals.
Seeds yellowish-brown with five-toothed ridges
Spreads by creeping roots (rhizomatous) and seeds

Distribution
Documented in a few areas. Grows under moist conditions in grasslands, right-of-ways, and along tree belt edges

Interesting Facts
Objectionable odor when leaves are crushed
Herb, escaped ornamental, still used in floral arrangements
May be toxic to grazing animals when ingested

I planted tansy to keep ants out of my garden. It did not work. Now it is a booger to get rid of. Invasive!

I do not grow this plant, information only.

The yellow flowering herb blooms from July through Sept throughout North America except for TX, SC to AL and the Arctic. It is commonly found along roadsides, edges of fields, waste places and shorelines.

Originally a European plant, it has escaped from gardens and in some parts of the country, as already noted, it can become quite invasive.

This has proven to be an extremely invasive herb for us.
Somehow the seed from a nearby pot of Tansy made it into our lawn and flower beds. We've spent the last three years unsuccessfully trying to eradicae it.
It made it into our alpine beds where it sent long tap roots down between the rocks, which made it impossible to pull out without taking out the small alpine plant growing in that space.
What a nightmare!

This is a beautiful, fast growing, hardy plant. The flowers are very attractive and it grows well here in West Texas. This plant shares my herb garden with yarrow, sage, germander, daisies and rosemary, (however it grows _away_ from the rosemary for some reason)

From my personal experience, please be aware that overdosing on this plant can be fatal, especially to dogs. Acording to Poison Control Center, there is no antidote known for Tansy poisoning, and we lost a 4 month old teething German Shepherd pup who decided to chew on the stem and root stalk. In small amounts, however, it is beneficial, as previously written, and I do use it sparingly, but since we lost the pup, it is now fenced well off from our other dogs.

Another medicinal garden must. I hang four pots from a macrame holder on each side of our doors, made so that there is Tansy all along the door side and flies are no longer a problem with open doors and no screens.

Great texture and green fern-like foliage, tidy yellow flowers, good grower, holds up to high temps, afternoon shade helps retain dark green coloring.

Tansy is great plant for the wildflower garden but it will be hog if you plant it in rich garden soil. The clump will spread indefinitly and the roots are monsters to dig out. I have it planted on the edge of the lawn where it can be controlled by the lawn mower. The yellow button flowers are excellent material for drying. Tansy is especially attractive to benificial insects. The ladybugs seem to love it.

A perennial herb from Europe.

Has pinnate, toothed, mid-dark green, scented (not particularly pleasent) leaflets. Bears small flat heads tightly packed with tiny yellow flowers which have no ray petals.

Flowers July-October.

Likes a well drained soil in full sun, will self seed everywhere when happy.

Do not use Tansy when pregnant. Tansy is a herb to be used in moderation only as it can be toxic in large doses. It may also irritate sensetive skins.

The leaves were once used to preserve corpses from corruption. It was used as a strewing herb in public areas as a form of disinfectant and insect repellent. It deters flies and a bunch of flowers and leaves hung up in a room will keep them away (will keep most things away including any visitors with a sense of smell if too much is used). Fleas also dislike Tansy smell and can be rubbed on a dogs coat to repel them.

It has a culinary use, bearing in mind not to use much of it, in salads, eggs, some cakes and puddings. It was also used as a digestive aid in very low amounts.

Tansy's medicinal uses, in times past, was to rid stomach worms from children, treat jaundice, hysteria (it has stimulant properties), nervous conditions, as a rub on varicose veins, muscle sprains and rheumatic joints. It was also used to treat epilepsy but it can cause a fit as well as alleviate them.

The leaves are full of potassium and a valuable addition to the compost heap, this is good because if you grow Tansy you are going to have a lot of it.