Feverfew is a short-lived, bushy perennial that has become naturalized in much of North America. It has fragrant, ferny foliage and composite white flowers with yellow centers. It is often grown as an annual. The cultivar ‘Aureum’ has a dwarf habit, smaller flowers, and golden aromatic foliage. Other cultivars have double flowers, yellow flowerheads, or pompom-like flowerheads.
Noteworthy CharacteristicsDaisy-like flowers appear over a long period in summer. Feverfew has been used to treat toothache, arthritis, headaches, and (obviously) fever. Contact with the foliage may aggravate skin allergies.
CareWill tolerate most any soil except wet and heavy, but prefers well-drained, sandy soil in full sun.
PropagationSow seed at 50° to 55°F in late winter or early spring. Divide plants or root basal cuttings in spring. Insert softwood cuttings in early summer. Self-seeds prolifically.
ProblemsAphids, chrysanthemum nematode, leaf miners
Fine Gardening Recommended Products
Rain Bird PATIOKIT Drip Irrigation Patio Watering Kit
Fine Gardening receives a commission for items purchased through links on this site, including Amazon Associates and other affiliate advertising programs.
D&X Garden Sprinkler
Fine Gardening receives a commission for items purchased through links on this site, including Amazon Associates and other affiliate advertising programs.
Pruning Simplified: A Step-by-Step Guide to 50 Popular Trees and Shrubs
Fine Gardening receives a commission for items purchased through links on this site, including Amazon Associates and other affiliate advertising programs.
- Genus : Tanacetum
- Plant Height : 1 to 3 feet
- Plant Width : 1 to 3 feet
- Zones : 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9
- Characteristics : Fragrant Flowers, Fragrant Foliage, Showy Foliage
- Light : Full Sun
- Moisture : Medium Moisture
- Maintenance : Moderate
- Growth Rate : Moderate
- Plant Type : Perennials
- Bloom Time : Summer
- Plant Seasonal Interest : Summer Interest
- Flower Color : White, Yellow
Plant Characteristics are only available to Fine Gardening members
Sign up for a free trial and get instant access to our complete plant guide as well as our entire collection of articles and videos.
