ExplorePlants

tansy

Tanacetum vulgare

Tansy is a bright yellow flower that grows in fields and gardens. Its leaves are feathery and it has a strong smell that some people find interesting!

Habitat: Grasslands

Appearance

The tansy has dense clusters of small, bright yellow, button-like flowers without ray petals. Its leaves are deeply divided and fern-like, with a strong, pungent aroma. The stems are typically sturdy and upright.

KingdomPlantaePhylumTracheophytaClassMagnoliopsidaOrderAsteralesFamilyAsteraceaeGenusTanacetum
tansy
aromatic trait badgeflowering trait badgebiennial trait badgecluster_flower trait badge
tansy

Category

Plants

Rarity

Common

Danger

2/5 · Low

Snaps

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Interesting facts

Ancient Greeks used tansy to help preserve bodies, likely because of its strong scent!

Its scientific name, `Tanacetum`, means 'immortality' because its flowers last so long!

People used to place tansy leaves in shoes, believing it could soothe tired, aching feet!

Tansy was once baked into a special 'tansy cake' eaten during the Christian season of Lent!

Special abilities

Ability

Scent Shield

Tansy has a strong, pungent scent that helps it repel many plant-eating insects, protecting its leaves.

Ability

Underground Network

Tansy can spread vigorously using underground stems (rhizomes), creating new plants to colonize areas.

Ability

Chemical Defense

Tansy produces natural compounds that make it unappetizing or toxic to most herbivores.

Measurements & details

Height
60-150 cm
Spread
30-60 cm
Flower Size
0.5-1 cm
Bloom Season
Summer-fall
Edible
No
Toxicity
Moderate
Lifecycle
Perennial
Pollination Method
Insect

Ecological connections

pollinates

honey bee

Apis mellifera

collects nectar and pollen from tansy flowers

pollinates

buff-tailed bumblebee

Bombus terrestris

visits tansy blooms for essential nectar and pollen

eats

tansy beetle

Chrysolina graminis

specialized beetle whose larvae and adults feed on tansy

Traits

Also known as

Common Tansy

Collections

Safety

Danger

2/5 · Low

Do not touch or eat any plants without asking an adult.

Frequently Asked Questions

How tall is tansy?

60-150 cm

How wide does tansy spread?

30-60 cm

How big are the flowers on tansy?

0.5-1 cm

When does tansy bloom?

Summer-fall

Is tansy edible?

No

Is tansy toxic?

Moderate

What is tansy's lifecycle?

Perennial

How is tansy pollinated?

Insect

Snap Map

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Recent Snaps

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Where to spot

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