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| TANSY... JUST COMING INTO BLOOM... |
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| COMPOUND FLOWER HEAD... |
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| ...FINELY CUT LEAVES |
Thursday, 8:30 AM. 68 degrees F, wind SW, light with stronger gusts. The sky is mostly clear with some high, wispy white clouds. The humidity has risen to 87% and there is some haze in the atmosphere. The barometer continues to fall, now at 29.94", predicting a possible thunderstorm tomorrow night. It will be a warmer, more humid summer day.
Tansy, Tannecetum vulgare, (vulgare meaning common) is in the Sunflower Family, the Compositae. Its golden yellow flower heads are a cheerful addition to the summer landscape. The name Tansy is of uncertain and ancient origin. The species is European, probably came to North America with agricultural seeds, and now is naturalized over much of the continent.
The garden vrietry Achillea millifolium 'Moonshine' and the common tansy,Tanacetum vulgare, are easily confused at first glance. Both have heavily dissected leaves and bright yellow flower heads, and grow to about the same height. But the former seldom escapes the garden , and the latter is mainly a roadside plant (which should be kept out of the garden as it will take over). Both have somewhat similar foliage, but the Tansy leaves smell rather medicinal when crushed, and the Achillea leaves have a strong rosin odor. The individual Tansy flower heads look like golden buttons, and in fact "buttons" is its common name in England. The individual flowers in the flower heads of the Achillea are minute and closely crowded together.
The garden vrietry Achillea millifolium 'Moonshine' and the common tansy,Tanacetum vulgare, are easily confused at first glance. Both have heavily dissected leaves and bright yellow flower heads, and grow to about the same height. But the former seldom escapes the garden , and the latter is mainly a roadside plant (which should be kept out of the garden as it will take over). Both have somewhat similar foliage, but the Tansy leaves smell rather medicinal when crushed, and the Achillea leaves have a strong rosin odor. The individual Tansy flower heads look like golden buttons, and in fact "buttons" is its common name in England. The individual flowers in the flower heads of the Achillea are minute and closely crowded together.
Tansy has very aromatic leaves, which were used to strew over dirt floors in the Middle Ages. It had many herbal uses in the past, particularly for stomach complaints and worms in children. The dried root is said to be a remedy for gout, from which I suffer, but I have not tried it (I am pretty careful with herbal self-medication).
Tansy is on the Wisconsin DNR prohibited list of invasive plants. However, it is everywhere, couldn't possibly be eradicated, and as far as I can see does little harm and is very colorful. But you don't want it in your garden, because it spreads so vigorously. In any case, I think worrying about Tansy is pretty much a dilettante luxury.
Tansy is on the Wisconsin DNR prohibited list of invasive plants. However, it is everywhere, couldn't possibly be eradicated, and as far as I can see does little harm and is very colorful. But you don't want it in your garden, because it spreads so vigorously. In any case, I think worrying about Tansy is pretty much a dilettante luxury.
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