Feverfew, which looks very similar to chamomile, is valued not only as a medicinal herb but also as a decorative ornamental plant in a farm or natural garden. The easy-care plant needs a lot of sun and is also an eye-catcher on a natural meadow.
Characteristics
- Asteraceae family
- bot. Surname: Tanacetum parthenium (syn. Chrysanthemum parthenium)
- also known as "false chamomile", ornamental chamomile or fever herb
- Avoid confusion with real chamomile
- should not be missing in any cottage garden
- Height of growth 40 to 60 centimeters high
- white flowers with a yellow flower head
- Flowering period from June to September
- conditionally hardy
- sows itself over and over again through seeds
sowing
Once feverfew has been cultivated in the garden, it usually comes back again and again in the right location. Because the sowing of the plant does not have to be controlled at all, as it sows itself anew every year due to the seeds formed. Even if the mother plant has fallen victim to the winter cold. But a cultivation through a first sowing succeeds:
- Get seeds from stores
- Put in pots with potting soil
- best time March
- germinate on windowsill until May
- A temperature of around 15 ° Celsius is sufficient
- Germination then takes two to three weeks
- then put the small plants in the garden bed in May
Tip: To make a wild meadow even more colorful, you can sow the seeds directly here in April and May or in the garden bed without pre-sowing. The seeds
cover lightly with soil.
Flowering and flowering period
at Chrysanthemum parthenium it is a so-called permanent bloomer. Because once a flower has formed, it will remain on the plant for a long time with the right care:
- first flowers appear in June
- stay until September
- the flowers are similar to those of chamomile
- small, white with a yellow center
- button-shaped flowers about three centimeters wide
- the flowers give off an aromatic scent
- Confusion can be avoided due to fragrance
- Flowers don't smell like chamomile
Note: The herb gets its name from its previous use when it was used to induce labor in pregnant women. Confusing it with chamomile could therefore be fatal in some cases. It was named fever herb because of its antipyretic properties.
Fertilizing and watering
The good news is that the herb is well tolerated by lime and therefore simple tap water can also be used for watering:
- Always keep the substrate slightly moist
- only pour directly on the roots
- a short drought is tolerated
- however, water young plants regularly
- on very hot days in the early morning hours
- alternatively water late in the evening
- no further fertilization in the first year if the soil is well prepared
- fertilize with compost in the second year in spring
- alternatively or in a pot, liquid fertilizer for flowers
Diseases and pests
Unfortunately, the young plants are very attractive to snails. It is therefore advisable to use a snail barrier right from the start when cultivating in a garden bed that has been laid out for several years. A snail fence, but also another natural barrier against the snails, can be used for this. If the plants are cultivated in the pot, you have to watch out for other pests:
- Aphids
- Spider mites
- like to stick to the potted plants
- especially when there is a long drought
- Use appropriate home remedies to counteract this
- especially if the herb is used as a medicinal plant
- Fungal diseases occur when there is a lack of space
- Therefore, do not place plants too close together
Bucket cultivation
Feverfew (Tanacetum parthenium), for example, can be cultivated together with a rose or alone. The following should be noted for this:
- spreads quickly
- Always put only one plant in a small pot
- create a drainage system to prevent waterlogging
- over drain hole
- Gravel, pottery shards or balls
- plant fleece over this
- Pour in half of the prepared soil
- Insert the plant and fill in the remaining soil
- press on and water well
plants
Small plants in pots are available in well-stocked specialist shops, which can then be planted in the garden bed. The best time to do this is in spring, when the earth is no longer frozen:
- four plants are enough for one square meter
- this is where the feverfew spreads
- covers the entire surface after a short time
- Dig the planting hole
- Insert the plant as deep as it does in the pot
- Fill in prepared soil
- press down well
- water well
Tip: The ornamental plants also look particularly beautiful on a rose bed. Here you can cover the earth between the tall rose plants.
Cut
The plants should always be cut if self-sowing is to be prevented. Because the plant can quickly multiply in the entire garden:
- Always cut dead flowers immediately
- before seeds can be formed
- usually the first time in July / August
- also stimulates flower formation
- cut back to the base in spring
- this is how the new growth is stimulated
- lignification can be delayed
Tip: You should always leave individual seed heads for additional plants. So these sow themselves and grow again in the same place next spring.
Location and soil conditions
Finding the right location for the feverfew is actually easy. However, a few things should be taken into account with regard to the nature of the soil:
- full sun
- can spread a carpet of flowers here
- sunny bed
- on a blooming natural meadow
- Soil can be calcareous
- always keep slightly moist around plants
- Garden soil with underneath compost is sufficient
Overwinter
Contrary to many assumptions, it is Tanacetum parthenium a plant that is perennial when the wintry climate allows it. On the other hand, it sows itself again and again, the seeds that fall down in autumn can survive on the hardy soil:
- hardy down to -12 ° Celsius
- protect in rough regions
- Brushwood over the roots helps from frost
- lay out in late autumn
- Protect a little more when cultivated in pots
- Cover the pot with brushwood mats
- place on wood or styrofoam
- Put sticks on the roots
- put in a protected corner
Multiply
In addition to the simple self-sowing, which actually turns the feverfew into a plant, the Can survive many years on the same bed over a number of years, the plants can also be cutted be increased. This propagation is usually well suited for pot cultivation, but also when another bed is to be planted with feverfew:
- choose young, herbaceous shoots
- about six to eight inches long
- Do not squeeze the interface
- Use a sharp and clean knife
- remove lower leaves
- Place the bottom buds in a container with water
- put in a bright and warm location
- first roots show up, plant
- ideally in pots
- plants are strong enough to put in the bed in spring
