Whether you garden in the ground, in raised beds, on the windowsill, or anywhere else, feverfew is a great addition or re-addition to your plant family. Read on for simple, straightforward specifics about growing feverfew.
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Family | Container Size | Good Companions | Bad Companions | Soil Conditions | Germination | Sun | Water | Temperature Range | Height | Lifespan | Reproduction | Ingestibility | Further Reading
What Family Does Feverfew Belong To?
Feverfew (Tanacetum parthenium) belongs to the Asteraceae family, also known as the daisy family.
Some of its relatives include chamomile, lettuce, and artichokes.
What Size Container Should I Use for Growing Feverfew?
The minimum container depth recommended for feverfew is 6 inches. Young plants may even be fine in a 4- or 5-inch container.
The minimum width recommended for it is 10 inches. Feverfew tends to form a small "bush" of flowers, so it needs room to spread out.
Learn more in our Choosing the Right Planter for Your Container Garden article here.
What Are Good Companion Plants for Feverfew?
Feverfew is compatible with many (even most) plants, but some of its best companions are as follows:
- Mints such as peppermint and spearmint
- Thyme. Mints and thyme are especially good companions for feverfew since they tend to discourage aphids and other pests.
- Horehound
- Fennel
- Geranium
- Clover
- Cilantro
- Lavender
- Motherwort
What Are Bad Companion Plants for Feverfew?
Feverfew is compatible with most plants. It even thrives next to fennel, which is a bad companion for many other plants due to its allelopathic effects.
When deciding whether or not to plant feverfew close to another species, be sure to consider both plants' sun, wind, soil, temperature/climate, and nutrient needs. We go into this more in one of our welcome series emails, entitled Demystifying Companion Planting. Sign up for the series here and get a FREE garden planner while you're at it!
What Soil Conditions Does Feverfew Need?
Feverfew prefers well-draining, sandy soil.
Despite this, it typically tolerates other soil types as long as they are not too far in the opposite direction such as being excessively waterlogged or heavy.
How Long Does Feverfew Take to Germinate?
Feverfew takes 10-14 days to germinate at a temperature of 60-80°F.
How Much Sun Does Feverfew Need?
Feverfew can grow in full sun to part shade.
In other words, it grows fastest in full sun. It will still grow in dappled shade or part shade, just at a slower rate.
Sun recommendations can vary by region, and feverfew grown in hot areas or in warmer conditions than the ideal temperature range noted below may need more shade.
How Much Water Does Feverfew Need?
In most cases, feverfew should receive a shallow watering every 1-2 days. This is because it has thin, shallow roots that do not retain moisture or nutrients for long.
Watering recommendations vary based on climate and other environmental considerations from day to day, week to week, and season to season. See our How Often to Water Plants article here for more information about watering amounts and frequency.
What Is the Ideal Temperature Range for Growing Feverfew?
Feverfew grows fastest in temperatures of 55-70°F.
This is its ideal temperature range. Although it will grow in temperatures both cooler and warmer than this range, the growth could be slower or even stunted.
Minimum and maximum temperatures will vary by variety. Some feverfew varieties are bred for late fall harvests and others for warmer climates.
How Tall Does Feverfew Get?
The average height of feverfew is 18-24 inches.
Is Feverfew Annual, Biennial, or Perennial?
Feverfew is a perennial herb, meaning that it lives for longer than a couple years.
How Does Feverfew Reproduce?
Feverfew reproduces by seed.
Can Feverfew Be Ingested?
Feverfew leaves and flowers are edible.
Feverfew leaves and flowers have anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties and can be used in herbal preparations. The most common preparations are tinctures and tea. An herb:solvent weight ratio of 1:4 at 40% alcohol is suggested for a feverfew tincture.
Unlike its similar-looking cousin, chamomile, feverfew's constituents are strongest in its leaves. The flowers still contain some of these properties, but they are not as concentrated as in the flowers.
Feverfew is generally recognized as safe, but some individuals have problems with taking it long-term. This varies greatly by individual. Try taking it short-term, taking a break, then resuming it first to make sure you personally tolerate long-term use well. See our Using Herbs page here for more information on herbal safety.
Further Reading
This article is intended as a quick-reference guide for gardeners. Consult your seed packet or seed catalog for variety-specific information.
When you have a bumper crop of feverfew rolling in, you may not have enough time for long, complicated recipes or many-step preservation procedures. Check out my article on quick, simple uses for feverfew here!
Feverfew is featured in these Plant to Plate articles: