Tanacetum is the genus that contains about 70 species of annuals, perennials, and sub shrubs that are part of the aster family.
The foliage of plants in this family is sometimes aromatic, and the flowers are mostly like daisies. In the past, many plants now in this genus were classified as part of the chrysanthemum genus. Flowers with the common names of painted daisy, tansy and feverfew belong to the tanacetum genus and have yellow centers made up of disc florets that produce the seeds.
Deadheading is necessary to prevent these plants from self seeding. Also cutting the plants back is a good strategy for the gardener, as it often encourages them to bloom again.
Divide these plants in spring or fall. Tanacetum coccineum, (cock SIN ee um) or painted daisy, is a bushy one-and-one-half to two-and-one-half foot tall perennial with deeply cut leaves and red, pink, white or yellow daisy type flowers in zones 3 to 7.
Tanacetum parthenium (par THEN ee um), or feverfew, is bushy, growing up to two feet with lacy aromatic leaves and clusters of small white daisy flowers in zones 4 to 9.
Tanacetum vulgare (vul GAR ee), or tansy, is two to three feet tall with small yellow button-type flowers in zones 3 to 8.
All do best in sun with excellent drainage.
