Tanacetum: Tiny Daisies That Brighten Any Bouquet

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Tanacetum gives you those tiny yellow-centred “daisies” that make a bouquet look freshly picked from a meadow. Unlike true field daisies, it lasts well in a vase and does not drop petals, so florists use it all year round in both soft and bright summery arrangements. Here is what the plant is, which varieties exist and how to grow tanacetum in your own garden.

What is tanacetum

In floristry, tanacetum usually means feverfew (Tanacetum parthenium), a perennial of the daisy family and a close relative of tansy. It forms bushy plants 40–70 cm tall with lacy light-green foliage, topped by dozens of flower heads 1.5–2 cm across.

The leaves and flowers have a distinctive bitter scent — that is normal and barely noticeable in a bouquet. It is also the easiest way to tell tanacetum from similar daisies.

Single and double varieties

• Single — white petals around a yellow centre, the classic meadow look.
• Double — fluffy white pompons with no visible centre, like miniature chrysanthemums.
• Anemone-centred — a dense domed centre with short petals around the edge.
• Yellow forms — lemon pompons and varieties with golden foliage.

Tanacetum in bouquets: pairings

Tanacetum adds lightness and air, so it is tucked between larger blooms:

• with white, pink or cream roses for a soft summer bouquet;
• with cornflowers, delphinium or lavender for a meadow-style arrangement;
• with sunflowers and yellow roses for a bright, sunny mood;
• with gypsophila and spray chrysanthemums for full, lush bouquets.

Find bouquets with small daisies in daisies.

Vase life

Cut tanacetum usually lasts 7–10 days. Cut the stems at an angle, strip leaves below the waterline and change the water every 2 days. Yellowing leaves are the first sign the water needs refreshing. Tanacetum travels well, which is why it is popular in delivered bouquets.

View full-size photoTanacetum comes in single and double varieties with different flower shapes

How to grow tanacetum in the garden

Feverfew is undemanding and suits beginners:

• Sowing: start seedlings in March; the seeds are tiny, so barely cover them. Plant out after the last spring frost.
• Position: full sun or light shade, loose soil without standing water.
• Flowering: June to autumn; deadhead to prolong it.
• Winter: it survives mild winters, but double varieties are often grown as annuals, and feverfew readily self-seeds.

More bouquet flowers are in our florist’s glossary.

FAQ

Is tanacetum the same as chamomile?

No. Tanacetum (feverfew) is a separate species of the daisy family. It looks similar but has smaller flower heads, a distinctive scent and a longer vase life.

Why does tanacetum smell?

The plant contains essential oils with a bitter scent. In a mixed bouquet it is barely noticeable.

Can I grow tanacetum from a bouquet?

No, cut stems will not root. Grow it from seed via seedlings instead.

Author: Maria Svitlovir

Graduated from Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv, Institute of Biology and Medicine (2001). BSc in Biology, MSc in Horticulture. Writes about plants, works at a garden centre selecting and repotting plants, and contributes to plant reference guides.

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