Tansy (Tanacetum macrophyllum)
Tanacetum macrophyllum, or Tansy, is a robust herbaceous perennial featuring white and yellow summer blooms. Perfect for naturalizing.
Complete Plant Information
Overview
Tanacetum macrophyllum, commonly known as Tansy, is a vigorous herbaceous perennial valued for its resilience and airy summer flower display. This plant produces dense corymbs of small flowers, each featuring distinct white rays surrounding a bright yellow center, adding texture and light to the late-season garden. It is an ideal choice for gardeners seeking established structure with relatively low input.
As a rhizomatous perennial, Tanacetum macrophyllum spreads slowly, making it suitable for larger garden settings where it can be allowed to naturalize. This species is adaptable, thriving in average, well-drained soils across a broad range of conditions. While it prefers adequate moisture, its tolerance for dryness makes it extremely useful in difficult, exposed areas of the landscape.
The appeal of Tansy lies in its ease of cultivation and its ability to colonize areas effectively through self-seeding. Whether planted in drifts or used to fill out naturalized sections, Tanacetum macrophyllum provides reliable performance and contributes to perennial borders without demanding constant attention.
Fast Facts
- Plant Family: Asteraceae
- Plant Type: Herbaceous perennial
- Native Range: Southwestern Asia, southern Europe
- Hardiness Zones: USDA Zones 4-8
- Size at Maturity:
- Height: 1-3 ft
- Spread: 1-2 ft
- Bloom Time: July to August
- Bloom Description: White with yellow center
- Sun Exposure: Full sun to part shade
- Water Needs: Dry to medium
- Maintenance Level: Medium
How to Grow
Planting Tanacetum macrophyllum is best accomplished in spring or fall, ensuring it establishes roots before extreme weather hits. Locate this perennial where it receives full sun or light afternoon shade, especially in hotter climates. It performs very well in average, well-drained soils, but importantly, it accommodates a wide range of soil types, including poor or dry conditions.
Maintenance for this Tansy variety is generally moderate. While it prefers consistently dry to medium moisture levels, avoid boggy conditions. Fertilization is rarely necessary due to its adaptability; over-fertilizing can sometimes encourage excessive foliage growth at the expense of flowers. Pruning is minimal, focusing only on removing spent flower stalks if you wish to limit self-seeding.
One key cultural note is its spreading habit. While it can be restrained in poor, dry soil, naturalization freely occurs via self-seeding, particularly if the plant is happy. In hot summers, providing a slight afternoon shade is beneficial to prevent wilting, though it manages heat well once established due to its drought tolerance.
Landscape Uses
Tanacetum macrophyllum excels in landscape settings where a natural, cottage garden aesthetic is desired. Its robust habit and tendency to self-seed make it perfect for naturalized areas, allowing it to colonize outlying spots attractively. Consider planting large drifts of this plant along informal borders or within meadows where it can mingle with other durable perennials.
This Tansy works beautifully when paired with plants that appreciate similar dry-to-medium soil conditions and full sun. Companion options include ornamental grasses, various sedums, and other heat-tolerant members of the Asteraceae family, such as some varieties of Achillea (Yarrow). The bold, large leaves of Tanacetum macrophyllum contrast nicely with finer-textured foliage.
Design integration should account for its 1 to 3-foot height, placing it in the middle ground of borders. Its long bloom time from July through August offers reliable color, bridging the gap between early summer bloomers and the richer colors of late autumn.
Standout Features
Flower Qualities
- Showy
Noteworthy Characteristics
Tanacetum macrophyllum is native to Southeastern Europe, Turkey and the Caucasus. It is an erect, rhizomatous perennial that typically grows 1-3’ tall. It features coarsely pinnatifid leaves (to 8” long) and summer flowers that bloom in dense corymbs, each displaying white rays and a yellow center disc. The genus name Tansy is derived from a Greek word meaning long-lasting, referencing the enduring nature of its flowers, both fresh and dried.
Tolerances
- Drought
- Dry Soil
Potential Problems
Tanacetum macrophyllum benefits from a generally clean bill of health, suffering from no serious insect or disease problems under normal horticultural conditions. Gardeners should remain vigilant, however, as spider mites can become an issue, particularly when the plant is stressed by prolonged heat or dryness in hot, dry climates. Regularly inspect the undersides of the leaves for fine webbing or stippling. Improving air circulation through proper spacing can help mitigate pest issues for this healthy perennial.
Frequently Asked Questions
What hardiness zones is Tansy suitable for?
Tanacetum macrophyllum is reliably hardy in USDA Zones 4 through 8.
How large does Tanacetum macrophyllum grow?
This perennial typically reaches a height between 1 and 3 feet, with a spread usually ranging from 1 to 2 feet wide.
When does Tansy bloom?
This specific variety of Tansy provides blooms from July extending into August, featuring distinctive white flowers with yellow centers.
What sun exposure does Tanacetum macrophyllum need?
It thrives best in conditions ranging from full sun to partial shade.
Conclusion
Tanacetum macrophyllum offers gardeners a highly adaptable and picturesque perennial, making it a fantastic backbone plant for naturalistic plantings or mixed borders. Its tolerance for dry soils and reliable mid-summer bloom cycle underscore the value of incorporating this reliable Tansy into your landscape design. Before planting, confirm that your local conditions fall within USDA Zones 4-8.
Companion Planting
When selecting neighbors for Tanacetum macrophyllum, focus on plants that share its preference for well-drained, somewhat leaner soils. Lavender (Lavandula) and Coreopsis species are excellent companions, as they share similar sun requirements and visual appeal without competing aggressively for moisture. Grouping it with drought-tolerant Russian Sage (Perovskia atriplicifolia) enhances the blue/yellow color contrast in the mid-to-late summer garden.
Seasonal Care Calendar
Spring care should focus on cutting back any old, dried foliage from the previous season before new growth begins to emerge robustly. As summer begins, monitor moisture, especially during dry spells, although its drought tolerance should minimize acute watering needs. In late summer, deadheading spent blooms on Tanacetum macrophyllum can prevent excessive self-seeding if you prefer to keep the spread contained to specific areas rather than allowing full naturalization.
