How to Grow and Care for Tansy Flowers

About Growing Tansy Plants in Your Home Flower Garden

Looking for a beautiful flower that is little or no work? Meet the perennial Tansy plant, the no-maintenance flower. Both heat and drought-tolerant, this plant will not mind if you ignore it. It will still produce charming clusters of small golden buttons. So, start growing tansies today, and leave the work to nature!

Originating in Europe where it grew wild, Tansies are members of the Thistle family. It blooms in mid-summer above ferny leaves. Many gardeners use Tansy as a natural, organic insect repellent. They are a great companion plant. The leaves give off a stinky, strongly pungent odor that the bugs just don’t like.

Did you know? The leaves were once used in flavoring. Tansies were also used to produce “Oil of Tansy”, which is poisonous, but was once used in medicine.

Tansy is great in the flower bed as borders, edging, or in clumps. They are also good for fresh bouquets and for drying.

Important: Tansies plants are toxic to people, pets, and livestock.

Tansy Flower Plant Specifications

Flower Colors: Yellow

Flowers Bloom: Summer.

Plant height: Two to four feet tall.

Ideal Soil pH: 5.0 – 7.5.

Plant Hardiness Zones: 4 – 8

Light Needs: Full sunlight to partial shade.

Toxic Plant?: Yes.

Deer Resistant? Yes. Deer do not like the strong scent of the flowers or the texture of the plant. So, the plants are not on the menu of deer, rabbits, and other foraging animals.

Number of Species: 160 species.

Plant Type: Perennials.

Native To: Temperate regions of Asia and Europe.

Botanical Name: Tanacetum vulgare

Are Perennial Tansy Flowers Edible?

NO!!

This plant is poisonous. It can cause convulsions, as well as serious brain and liver problems. It can also cause death. So, it is very important to keep this plant away from children, pets, and farm animals.

Also, contact with the plant can cause an allergic reaction.

Garden Tip: Wear gloves when handling toxic Tansy flowers.

Medicinal Uses for Tansy Plants

Many people look at this plant as a toxic, roadside weed. Actually, it is a medicinal herb. Here are some of the medicinal uses:

Use it to improve appetite.
Topically, it kills bacteria and lice.
Women use it in a tea to regulate menstrual cycles.
It has been used to kill roundworms and threadworms in children.
Use it as a remedy for jaundice and gout.
Use it for flatulence.
The flowers are a gastrointestinal stimulant that improves digestion.

Important Note: As a toxic plant we strongly recommend you do not make home remedies from this plant without the proper training.

Light Requirements

Tansy plants grow best in bright, direct sunlight. Select a planting location where they will receive six to eight hours of direct sunlight every day..

The plants also tolerate a little partial shade, especially in hot regions of the country. In these areas, plant them where they receive a little shade during the hottest part of the day.

Perennial Tansies Plant Propagation

Perennial Tansy is grown from seeds in the spring. Directly seed them into your flower garden after all danger of frost. Sow the seeds early in the season and cover lightly with 1/4″ of fine garden or potting soil. Then, water thoroughly once. Also, make sure to mark the area where you planted them, as they take weeks to sprout.

Also, they can be started indoors 8 – 10 weeks before the last frost in your area.

Note: For indoor starts, we recommend using a heated germination mat, to increase the speed of germination. And, it, results in a higher germination rate.

Established plants can be propagated by division in the fall.

Note: For indoor starts, we recommend using a heated germination mat, to increase the speed of germination. And, it, results in a higher germination rate.

Final Plant Spacing: Space plants 2 to 3 feet apart.

Days to Germination: Seeds sprout in 20 – 30 days.

About Seed Germination

How to Grow Tansy Plants

Planting location and soil needs:

Tansy plants are easy to grow and low maintenance. As previously mentioned, they prefer full sun to light, partial shade. They grow well in a variety of soils. The first time you plant them, mix in a general amount of compost. After planting them, add a general-purpose fertilizer, especially if the soil is poor. Then, water the planting area.

Once your Tansy plants are established, they should grow well with few problems and no maintenance.

Fertilizer needs:

In average to rich soils, the plants grow well all season with no additional fertilizer. For the best results in poor soils, apply a general-purpose fertilizer every five to six weeks during the growing period.

Water needs:

Tansy flowers are drought tolerant. For the best performance, keep the soil moist to slightly dry. Water them during extended dry periods.

Other steps:

Keep them well-weeded, especially while they are still young.

Also, apply a two to three-inch layer of mulch for a tidy appearance, to help keep the weeds down, and to retain soil moisture.

How to Grow Tansy Flowers in Flowerpots and Containers

Tansy flowers are not a popular choice to grow in flowerpots and containers for two reasons. First, it gives off an unpleasant scent. Second, as a toxic plant, most people want to keep this in the flower garden away from children and pets.

For those who want to grow them on a balcony or patio, here they are a few additional steps:

These flowers tolerate a little overcrowding. So, grow them in containers a little closer than the normal recommended spacing.
Select a sunny location on your patio or deck.
It is important to have a drain hole in the container to allow excess water to drain from the pot.
The plant grows best in slightly dry soil. Keep an eye on the moisture level. Check the plants every few days, especially in extended periods of hot, dry weather.
Keep the soil slightly moist, but not wet. It is okay to let the top of the soil to dry between watering.
When watering the plants, thoroughly wet the soil. Excess water will drain through the hole in the bottom of the flowerpot.
Nutrients in a flowerpot are limited. So, use fertilizer spikes to feed the plants. Or, apply a light solution of liquid fertilizer once a month.

How to Prune Tansy Flowers

The plant requires little or no pruning. Simply remove the occasional sick, dead, or damaged leaves as you spot them.

Also, remove spent flower blooms.

If you want to harvest some of the seeds, leave a few spent blooms on a couple of the plants.

Insects and Plant Disease

Insect and disease problems are uncommon. Tansy has natural repellents for insects and is sometimes used in organic sprays.

You can use the flowers to make a natural insect repellent. Add a handful of flower petals to a gallon of hot water. After a couple of hours, strain out the flower petals, Then, pour the liquid into a spray bottle.

Did You Know? Ants do not like Tansy.

Also see: Plant Problems – Identify the causes and find the cures.

Overwintering Perennial Tansy Plants

In most areas of the country, perennial Tansy plants overwinter in the ground with few, if any, problems. However, if you’re growing them in containers left outdoors in cold northern climates, the roots can freeze. This will damage or kill them. So, plan on sheltering the containers from the most brutal winters.

Do not prune the plants in the Fall. Rather, keep this task for the Spring.

Apply a thick layer of mulch over the root area. In the early spring, rake off the excess mulch. Then, trim back the plants, removing any dead leaves and stems.