# Feverfew (*Tanacetum parthenium*)

Feverfew is a pretty plant with daisy-like flowers. People used to think it could help with fevers, but now we know it's just lovely to look at in gardens.

- **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant)
- **Rarity:** Common
- **Danger:** 2/5 · Low
- **Snaps:** 1
- **Habitat:** Gardens
- **Also known as:** Bachelor's Buttons, Maid's Bonnet

![Feverfew](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Feverfew.jpg&width=800)

Photo: CC BY 2.5 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Feverfew.jpg)

## Appearance

The Feverfew is a bushy plant with bright green, deeply lobed leaves. It has numerous small, daisy-like flowers with white ray petals surrounding a sunny yellow disc center, making it look like a miniature daisy bush.

## Taxonomy

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

## Interesting facts

- Feverfew belongs to the daisy family, like giant sunflowers and tiny dandelions!
- Feverfew's name means 'fever reducer' in Latin, used by ancient people for fevers!
- Its tiny seeds are super light, carried far by wind to find new homes!
- Special oils in its leaves give Feverfew a strong, unique scent!

## Special abilities

- **Scent Shield:** Feverfew has strongly aromatic leaves that can deter some grazing animals from eating it.
- **Pollinator Beacon:** Its abundant white-and-yellow flowers act like a bright signal, attracting many insects for pollination.
- **Seed Spreader:** Feverfew produces many tiny, light seeds that are easily spread by wind, helping new plants grow far away.

## Measurements & details

- **Height:** 30-60 cm
- **Spread:** 30-45 cm
- **Flower Size:** 1-2 cm
- **Bloom Season:** Summer
- **Edible:** Yes
- **Toxicity:** Mild
- **Lifecycle:** Perennial
- **Pollination Method:** Insect

## Ecological connections

- **Pollinates:** European honey bee (*Apis mellifera*) — Visits flowers for nectar and pollen.
- **Pollinates:** Painted lady butterfly (*Vanessa cardui*) — Feeds on nectar, aiding pollination.
- **Eats:** Green peach aphid (*Myzus persicae*) — Sucks sap from leaves and stems.

## Traits

- [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.
- [Fragrant Flower](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/fragrant-flower): Fragrant flowers emit a pleasant aroma, often to attract pollinators or for defense.
- [Medicinal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/medicinal): Medicinal plants possess chemical compounds that can be used for therapeutic purposes to treat illnesses or maintain health.

## Collections

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

## Safety

**Danger:** 2/5 · Low

Enjoy feverfew's beauty from a safe distance and don't eat any part of the plant without asking an adult.

## Frequently Asked Questions

### How to identify Feverfew?

Count the petals where you can, then compare the flower's center, its symmetry, how the blooms are grouped and the leaves below. Color varies between garden varieties and shifts with the light. Flower Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details.

### How tall is Feverfew?

30-60 cm

### How wide does Feverfew spread?

30-45 cm

### How big are the flowers on Feverfew?

1-2 cm

### When does Feverfew bloom?

Summer

### Is Feverfew edible?

Yes

### Is Feverfew toxic?

Mild

### What is Feverfew's lifecycle?

Perennial

## Where to spot

- [Squantum Point Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/squantum-point-park) — Massachusetts, US · Nature Reserve
- [Furnace Brook Parkway](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/furnace-brook-parkway) — Massachusetts, US · Park
- [Quincy Shore Drive](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/quincy-shore-drive) — Massachusetts, US · Park
- [Knowsley Safari Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/knowsley-safari-park) — England, GB · Zoo
- [Schlossgarten Schwetzingen](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/schlossgarten-schwetzingen) — Baden-Württemberg, DE · Park

[View all places to see Feverfew](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/feverfew)

## 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: [Feverfew: Characteristics, Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/feverfew)