Feverfew
Tanacetum parthenium
📖 About this plant
Feverfew is a traditional medicinal herb best known for preventing migraines and reducing headache frequency. Its small daisy-like flowers and citrus-scented leaves contain parthenolide, an anti-inflammatory compound studied extensively for headache relief.
🧑🌾 Care requirements
Full sun to partial shade (5-7 hrs)
Every 1-2 weeks
Moderate (40-60%)
10-25°C
Well-drained garden loam; tolerates poor soils; pH 6.0-7.0
Light feeding with balanced liquid fertilizer monthly; avoid rich soils which reduce potency
🌐 Common Names
📋 Plant facts
- 🌍 Origin
- Southeastern Europe, Asia Minor
- 📏 Max height
- 30-60 cm
- 📐 Spread
- 30-45 cm
- 🕰️ Bloom time
- Summer
- 🎨 Bloom color
- White, Yellow
- 🍃 Foliage color
- Green
- ⏳ Lifespan
- Perennial
- 📈 Growth rate
- Moderate
- ☠️ Toxicity
- Non-toxic; mouth ulcers may occur from chewing fresh leaves; avoid during pregnancy
- 🌱 Propagation
- Seed sowing in spring or autumn; division in spring; basal cuttings in summer
🛡️ Health & Safety
Non-toxic; mouth ulcers may occur from chewing fresh leaves; avoid during pregnancy
Common issues
- Root rot from overwatering
- Powdery mildew
- Aphids
- Self-seeds aggressively
💡 Care tips
- Traditionally used to prevent migraines and reduce fevers
- Daisy-like white flowers with yellow centers bloom all summer
- Self-seeds readily and can become a permanent garden resident
- HARVEST leaves and flowers just before full bloom for medicinal use
