Practical
Plants

Tanacetum cinerariifolium

Dalmation Pellitory

a perennial member of the Tanacetum genus in the family Compositae.

No photo available

Taxonomy and growth

Life cycle
perennial
Height
0.5 m
Spread
0.5 m
Fertility
Self fertile, Bees, Flies, Self
Flower type
hermaphrodite
Pollinators
Bees, Flies, Self

Uses

Toxicity

Toxicity warning. The historical record reports a hazard for this plant. Do not use it to decide which parts are safe to eat or use medicinally.

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Some people are highly allergic to this plant[4]. Prolonged contact with the dried flowers can lead to allergic dermatitis, allergic rhinitis and asthma in humans[12].

Medicinal uses

Historical medicinal uses. These records describe reported uses. They do not establish safety or effectiveness. Ask a qualified health professional before using any plant medicinally.

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Dalmatian pellitory is not used medicinally, though research has shown that the flowers possess weak antibiotic activity[12]. The flowers are the main source of the insecticide pyrethrum, which is toxic to insects but not to mammals. It has sometimes been used as a vermifuge in China[3].

Product or use
Vermifuge

Material uses

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

The dried flower buds are the source of the insecticide 'Pyrethrum'[1][13][2][6][14][16][17]. The pyrethrins are produced in the yellow disc florets[5]. The highest pyrethrin content is from the flowers when they are in full bloom (1.22%) and lowest in the preceding period (0.71%)[11]. This insecticide also kills many beneficial insects, though it is relatively harmless to mammals[13]. Another report says that it is non-toxic to mammals[10]. It is best used in the evening so that it will have lost much of its virulence by the morning[9]. Steep two handfuls of the dried powdered flowers in one litre of hot water for an hour. This mixture can be either pureed or strained and then used as a spray[9]. Once dried, the flowers or the powder retain their insecticidal properties almost indefinitely[10]. The growing plant can be used as an insect repellent in the garden[2][6][7]. Effective against mosquitoes and ants[9].

Product or use
Insecticide
Product or use
Repellent

Environment

Range
Europe - Dalmatia, Yugoslavia.
Habitat
Rocky ground[15], usually by the seashore[13].
Light
full sun
Shade tolerance
no shade
Water
moderate
Hardiness
Zone 6+
Soil textures
sandy, loamy, clay
Soil pH
acid, neutral, alkaline, very alkaline
Drainage
well drained
Tolerances
high wind, maritime exposure
Wind
Yes
Maritime
Yes
Tolerates Nutritionally Poor Soil
No
Drought
intolerant

Propagation

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Seed - sow spring in a greenhouse. Only just cover the seed and do not allow the pot to dry out. Prick out the seedlings into individual pots once they are large enough to handle and grow them on in the greenhouse for their first winter. Plant out in late spring or early summer. Division in spring. Larger divisions can be planted out direct into their permanent positions. We have found that it is best to pot up smaller divisions and grow them on in light shade in a greenhouse or cold frame until they are growing away well. Plant them out in the summer or the following spring.

Cultivation

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Succeeds in an ordinary garden soil[1]. Prefers a rich soil with plenty of humus[3]. Prefers a pebbly, calcareous dry soil in a sunny position[13]. When grown in moist climates the plants often die after flowering[13].Tolerates a pH in the range 5.2 to 7.5. Pyrethrum is widely cultivated as a source of an insecticide[16][17], the growing plant is also said to repel insects from plants growing nearby[2][6][7].

References

  1. F. Chittendon. RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956 Oxford University Press 1951-00-00

    ↩1↩2

  2. Holtom. J. and Hylton. W. Complete Guide to Herbs. Rodale Press 1979-00-00 ISBN 0-87857-262-7

    ↩1↩2↩3

  3. ? A Barefoot Doctors Manual. Running Press ISBN 0-914294-92-X

    ↩1↩2

  4. Natural Food Institute, Wonder Crops. 1987.

    ↩

  5. Buchanan. R. A Weavers Garden.

    ↩

  6. Philbrick H. and Gregg R. B. Companion Plants. Watkins 1979-00-00

    ↩1↩2↩3

  7. Riotte. L. Companion Planting for Successful Gardening. Garden Way, Vermont, USA. 1978-00-00 ISBN 0-88266-064-0

    ↩1↩2

  8. Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press 1992-00-00 ISBN 0-333-47494-5

  9. Allardice.P. A - Z of Companion Planting. Cassell Publishers Ltd. 1993-00-00 ISBN 0-304-34324-2

    ↩1↩2↩3

  10. Bown. D. Encyclopaedia of Herbs and their Uses. Dorling Kindersley, London. 1995-00-00 ISBN 0-7513-020-31

    ↩1↩2

  11. Chopra. R. N., Nayar. S. L. and Chopra. I. C. Glossary of Indian Medicinal Plants (Including the Supplement). Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, New Delhi. 1986-00-00

    ↩

  12. Stuart. M. (Editor) The Encyclopedia of Herbs and Herbalism Orbis Publishing. London. 1979-00-00 ISBN 0-85613-067-2

    ↩1↩2

  13. Grieve. A Modern Herbal. Penguin 1984-00-00 ISBN 0-14-046-440-9

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5

  14. Uphof. J. C. Th. Dictionary of Economic Plants. Weinheim 1959-00-00

    ↩

  15. ? Flora Europaea Cambridge University Press 1964-00-00

    ↩

  16. Schery. R. W. Plants for Man.

    ↩1↩2

  17. Usher. G. A Dictionary of Plants Used by Man. Constable 1974-00-00 ISBN 0094579202

    ↩1↩2

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