# dune tansy (*Tanacetum bipinnatum*)

Dune tansy is a lovely plant that grows in sandy places. It has bright yellow flowers that look like tiny suns shining in the grass!

- **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant)
- **Rarity:** Common
- **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low
- **Habitat:** Coastal areas

![dune tansy](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/USFWS_tanacetum_bipinnatum_%2823535062420%29.jpg&width=800)

Photo: USFWS - Pacific Region, Public domain · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:USFWS_tanacetum_bipinnatum_%2823535062420%29.jpg)

## Appearance

The dune tansy has dense clumps of feathery, fern-like leaves that are often a silvery-green color. It produces clusters of small, button-shaped, bright yellow flowers, standing out against the sandy backdrop of its habitat.

## Taxonomy

- **Kingdom:** Plantae
- **Phylum:** Tracheophyta
- **Class:** Magnoliopsida
- **Order:** Asterales
- **Family:** Asteraceae
- **Genus:** Tanacetum

## Interesting facts

- Ancient people used tansy to preserve food and repel pesky insects.
- Dried tansy was tucked into clothes to keep moths away from fabrics!
- Its name \*Tanacetum\* means 'immortality,' perhaps for its long-lasting scent!
- Though toxic, some moth larvae actually munch its leaves for food!

## Special abilities

- **Sand Anchor:** Dune tansy has strong rhizomes and deep roots that help it hold sandy soil in place, preventing erosion.
- **Salt Shield:** Dune tansy can grow in salty coastal air because its leaves are covered in fine hairs, protecting them from salt spray.
- **Bug Blocker:** Dune tansy produces special chemicals in its leaves that help deter many insects from munching on it, keeping itself safe.

## Measurements & details

- **Height:** 10-60 cm
- **Spread:** 15-45 cm
- **Flower Size:** 0.5-1.5 cm
- **Bloom Season:** Summer
- **Edible:** No
- **Toxicity:** Moderate
- **Lifecycle:** Perennial
- **Pollination Method:** Insect

## Ecological connections

- **Pollinates:** Honey Bee (*Apis mellifera*) — Gathers nectar and pollen from flowers.
- **Pollinates:** Yellow-faced Bumblebee (*Bombus vosnesenskii*) — Visits flowers in its Pacific coast range.
- **Pollinates:** House Fly (*Musca domestica*) — Can transfer pollen between plants.

## Traits

- [Flowering](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/flowering): Flowering plants are any plants that produce flowers as part of their reproductive cycle.
- [Ornamental](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/ornamental): Ornamental plants are cultivated primarily for their aesthetic appeal, enhancing landscapes and gardens with their attractive foliage, flowers, or form.
- [Drought Tolerant](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/drought-tolerant): Drought-tolerant plants can survive and flourish in conditions with limited water availability.
- [Pollinator Magnet](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/pollinator-magnet): Describes plants that are particularly attractive and beneficial to a wide range of pollinating organisms.
- [Coastal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/coastal): Coastal habitats are dynamic environments located along the interface between land and sea, influenced by tides, waves, and saltwater.
- [Keystone Species](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/keystone-species): Describes a species whose presence and role have a disproportionately large effect on its environment.

## Collections

- [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/plants)

## Safety

**Danger:** 1/5 · Very low

Always look but don't touch plants without asking an adult first.

## Frequently Asked Questions

### How to identify dune tansy?

Start with the whole plant, then compare leaf arrangement, leaf edges, stems and any flowers or fruit. Opposite leaves grow in pairs; alternate leaves come one at a time along the stem. These details tell you far more together than a single green leaf does. Plant Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details.

### How tall is dune tansy?

10-60 cm

### How wide does dune tansy spread?

15-45 cm

### How big are the flowers on dune tansy?

0.5-1.5 cm

### When does dune tansy bloom?

Summer

### Is dune tansy edible?

No

### Is dune tansy toxic?

Moderate

### What is dune tansy's lifecycle?

Perennial

## More Plants

- [white snakeroot](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-snakeroot) (*Ageratina altissima*)
- [tree-of-heaven](https://www.snappit.app/explore/tree-of-heaven) (*Ailanthus altissima*)
- [western sword fern](https://www.snappit.app/explore/western-sword-fern) (*Polystichum munitum*)
- [common milkweed](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-milkweed) (*Asclepias syriaca*)

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Source: [Dune Tansy: Characteristics, Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/dune-tansy)