Practical
Plants

Tanacetum parthenium

Feverfew

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

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Taxonomy and growth

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

Uses

Edible uses

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

The dried flowers are used as a flavouring in cooking certain pastries[5][6]. The plant is used in cooking to impart a deliciously aromatic bitter taste to certain foods[21]. A tea is made from the dried flowers[6].

Product or use
Condiment
Product or use
Tea

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.

Feverfew has gained a good reputation as a medicinal herb and extensive research since 1970 has proved it to be of special benefit in the treatment of certain types of migraine headaches and rheumatism[238, K]. It is also thought of as a herb for treating arthritis and rheumatism[14]. The leaves and flowering heads are anti-inflammatory, antispasmodic, aperient, bitter, carminative, emmenagogue, sedative, stimulant, stings, stomachic, vasodilator and vermifuge[17][21][9][16][18][19][2][3]. The plant is gathered as it comes into flower and can be dried for later use[21]. Use with caution[3], the fresh leaves can cause dermatitis and mouth ulcers if consumed[12]. This remedy should not be prescribed for pregnant women[12]. A tea made from the whole plant is used in the treatment of arthritis, colds, fevers etc. It is said to be sedative and to regulate menses[11][12]. An infusion is used to bathe swollen feet[15]. Applied externally as a tincture, the plant is used in the treatment of bruises etc[21]. Chewing 1 - 4 leaves per day has proven to be effective in the treatment of some migraine headaches[11].

Product or use
Antiecchymotic
Product or use
Antiinflammatory
Product or use
Antispasmodic
Product or use
Aperient
Product or use
Bitter
Product or use
Carminative
Product or use
Emmenagogue
Product or use
Sedative
Product or use
Stimulant
Product or use
Stings
Product or use
Stomachic
Product or use
Vasodilator
Product or use
Vermifuge

Material uses

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

The dried flower buds are a source of an insecticide. They are said to have the same properties as pyrethrum (obtained mainly from T. cinerariifolia)[20][2][8]. Steep 1 cupful of the dried flowers in one litre of hot soapy water for an hour. Strain, then allow to cool slightly before use[8]. An essential oil from the plant is used in perfumery[21].

Product or use
Essential
Product or use
Repellent

Environment

Range
S.E. Europe to Asia. Naturalized in Britain[4].
Habitat
Mountain scrub, rocky slopes, walls, waste places and a weed of gardens, avoiding acid soils[22].
Light
full sun
Shade tolerance
no shade
Water
moderate
Hardiness
Zone 6+
Soil textures
sandy, loamy, clay
Soil pH
acid, neutral, alkaline
Drainage
well drained
Tolerances
high wind
Wind
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. When they are large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and plant them out in early summer, after the last expected frosts. If you have sufficient seed it can be sown outdoors in situ during the spring. Plants usually self-sow freely and so, once you have the plant, further sowing is usually unnecessary[K]. Division in spring. Since the plants are quite short-lived, this method is not really very serviceable[K].

Cultivation

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

A very easily grown plant, it succeeds in an ordinary garden soil[1]. Thrives in any kind of soil[21], plants can even be grown in walls[10]. Often grown in the flower garden, feverfew is a short lived perennial but usually self-sows prolifically[7, K]. There are many named varieties selected for their ornamental value[12]. The cultivar 'Golden' (syn 'Yellow') has yellow tinted leaves[6]. The leaves have a refreshing aromatic aroma[13].

References

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

    ↩

  2. Polunin. O. Flowers of Europe - A Field Guide. Oxford University Press 1969-00-00 ISBN 0192176218

    ↩1↩2

  3. Mills. S. Y. The Dictionary of Modern Herbalism.

    ↩1↩2

  4. Clapham, Tootin and Warburg. Flora of the British Isles. Cambridge University Press 1962-00-00

    ↩

  5. Kunkel. G. Plants for Human Consumption. Koeltz Scientific Books 1984-00-00 ISBN 3874292169

    ↩

  6. Facciola. S. Cornucopia - A Source Book of Edible Plants. Kampong Publications 1990-00-00 ISBN 0-9628087-0-9

    ↩1↩2↩3

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

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

    ↩1↩2

  9. Lust. J. The Herb Book. Bantam books 1983-00-00 ISBN 0-553-23827-2

    ↩

  10. Grey-Wilson. C. & Matthews. V. Gardening on Walls Collins 1983-00-00 ISBN 0-00-219220-0

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  11. Foster. S. & Duke. J. A. A Field Guide to Medicinal Plants. Eastern and Central N. America. Houghton Mifflin Co. 1990-00-00 ISBN 0395467225

    ↩1↩2

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

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4

  13. Genders. R. Scented Flora of the World. Robert Hale. London. 1994-00-00 ISBN 0-7090-5440-8

    ↩

  14. Chevallier. A. The Encyclopedia of Medicinal Plants Dorling Kindersley. London 1996-00-00 ISBN 9-780751-303148

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  15. Moerman. D. Native American Ethnobotany Timber Press. Oregon. 1998-00-00 ISBN 0-88192-453-9

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  16. The Herb Society Herbal Review. Vol.11. 3. The Herb Society 1986-00-00 ISBN 0264-9853

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

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

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  19. De. Bray. L. The Wild Garden.

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

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  21. Chiej. R. Encyclopaedia of Medicinal Plants. MacDonald 1984-00-00 ISBN 0-356-10541-5

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5↩6

  22. Launert. E. Edible and Medicinal Plants. Hamlyn 1981-00-00 ISBN 0-600-37216-2

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