Fernleaf Tansy – 50 Seeds

Fernleaf Tansy (Tanacetum vulgare var crispum) is also known as Golden Buttons, Double Tansy, or Curled Tansy. Its leaves are longer, broader, more finely cut and down-curving, than common Tansy. This perennial plant is also denser and more decorative and grows only 2 to 3 feet tall.  The yellow flowers are similar to those of common tansy and the leaves are light green in color.  It is much less invasive than common tansy and much showier.

Tansy Medicinal Benefits

• Medicinal tea.
• Vermifuge (eliminates intestinal worms).
• External: various skin conditions, relieve sprains, reduce swelling, neuralgia and painful rheumatic parts

WARNING: The plant’s essential oil contains several toxic substances including thujone. Thujone is known to cause liver damage as well as convulsions and brain damage.
When tansy is applied topically, it can also cause allergic reactions or lead to contact dermatitis.
Pregnant women and nursing mothers must avoid taking tansy.

Tansy Garden & Home Uses

• Moth, ant, fly and flea repellent indoors as well as outdoors.
• It also repels borers when planted among young fruit trees.
• It is a good companion plant to raspberries, black-berries and grapes.
• It deters cucumber beetle, squash bugs and Japanese beetles.
• It concentrates potassium making it a good addition to the compost pile.
• Planted near a walkway, tansy releases its aroma each time it is brushed against.
• Plant near the doorway to prevent flies from entering.

Growing Fernleaf Tansy

Indoor Sowing: Not Recommended.

Direct Sowing: Spring and Autumn.

• Plant tansy in a location that receives full sun or light shade. In warmer climates a lightly shaded location is preferred as plants may become heat stressed in full sun.
• Surface sow the seeds directly and sprinkle a very thin layer of soil or growing medium over the seeds, but do not bury the seeds too deeply as they require some light to reach them in order to germinate.
• Press down gently to ensure good contact between the moist growing medium and the seeds, this helps to prevent them drying out between watering.
• Tansy seeds can be slow to germinate, taking between 20 and 30 days to emerge depending on soil temperatures. Optimal soil temperature for germination is 18-27°C.
• Once the seedlings are established and have couple of leaves, space them about 20cm apart to allow them room to grow.
• Expect your tansy plants to begin flowering from about a year after sowing.
• Tansy bushes that have become too scraggly can be cut back hard in early Spring when new growth has started to sprout.
• Tansy is a perennial and will keep growing back for many years.
• Tansy may self-sow and spread aggressively through the garden in optimal conditions, deadhead spent flowers regularly if this becomes a problem.