How to Grow Feverfew
Tanacetum parthenium
Feverfew is a hardy perennial herb with cheerful white daisy flowers and strongly aromatic foliage, traditionally used to help relieve migraines. It thrives in well-drained, average soil with full sun to partial shade and is impressively drought-tolerant once established. Deadhead regularly to prolong flowering and control self-seeding. Cut back hard in autumn. It is short-lived but renews itself freely from self-sown seedlings.
Yearly Lifecycle
Care Essentials
Rarely needs feeding. Grows well in average to poor soil. Light balanced feed in spring supports flowering; avoid overfeeding which reduces medicinal potency.
Watch For
- Aphids on new growth
- Powdery mildew in dry conditions
- Self-seeding invasiveness
Pet Safety
Care Requirements
Light
Full sun to partial shade
Grows best in full sun but tolerates partial shade. In hot climates, afternoon shade helps prolong flowering. Good drainage is more important than soil richness.
Watering
Drought-tolerant once established; water young plants
Water regularly during the first season while establishing. Once established, feverfew is remarkably drought-tolerant and rarely needs supplemental watering except in prolonged dry spells.
Fertilizing
Little to no feeding needed
Grows well without fertiliser. A light balanced feed in early spring is optional. Avoid nitrogen-heavy feeds which produce lush leafy growth at the expense of flowers.
Pruning
Deadhead to extend flowering; cut back hard in autumn
Remove spent flowers throughout the season to promote continued blooming and limit self-seeding. In autumn, cut the whole plant back to a low mound of fresh basal growth.
Spacing
45 cm between plants
Space plants 45 cm apart in all directions for good airflow. Feverfew self-seeds freely so monitor surrounding areas and remove unwanted seedlings promptly.
Support
No support needed
Compact bushy habit needs no staking. Plants in very fertile, shaded conditions may become leggy; a hard spring trim keeps them compact.
Spacing & Planting
| Plant spacing | 45 cm |
| Row spacing | 45 cm |
| Mature height | 60 cm |
| Mature spread | 45 cm |
Short-lived perennial that self-seeds freely. Space 45 cm to allow airflow and reduce mildew.
