Feverfew (Tanacetum parthenium)

As a perennial gardener I adore Feverfew. I plant so that I have season long blooms of all kinds and these come up in between and pick up spaces that happen between bouts of other plantings. They are prolific self-seeders, nice 'surprises', and easy to remove if they pop up where not desired.

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I also have a love affair with this plant, maybe because it has an old-fashioned look to it. Also, I had read that it does something helpful for the soil, so I just keep growing it. In my zone I can start some plants in fall and will get great early-spring blooms. Brightens up the garden when nothing else is in bloom. Even though it reseeds, it is definitely not invasive. Unusual scent, a bit like marigolds.

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Feverfew is a reliable self-seeder for me and will pop up not only where I have originally planted it, but also in other areas of the garden. Unless it is obviously overcrowding other plantings, it adds a jolly splash of little white daisies for contrast. It will also tolerate some shade. To keep plants from becoming leggy, they may be sheared back by half at about 12" tall and fertilized. Eating one leaf per day may prevent migraine headaches, and may also be helpful for as a carminative, emmenagogue, purgative, stimulant, bitter tonic, antipyretic, anti-inflammatory, and vermifuge.

Folklore: Feverfew must be pulled from the ground with the left hand, speaking the afflicted person's name, and the herbalist must not look behind him/her.

It is also a deterrent to many bugs, and as can be seen by many of the photos submitted, is a nice foil to roses.

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Did not bloom first year from winter sowing, but foliage is still green here in winter.

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