Tansy

Common Name: Tansy, Bitter Buttons, Cow Bitter, Golden Buttons

Specific Name: Tanacelum vulgare

Known Occurrence at Taylor Point:

Map Areas: Beach 1C, Beach 1G

Category: Non-Native, Herbaceous Plant

Ecological Considerations:Tanacelum vulgare is a hardy perennial flowering herbaceous plant in the aster family. Tansy flowers tolerate average, somewhat dry soils (but not wet soils) and will grow in either full sun or partial shade. It is often found growing along roadsides.

Its yellow flower is round, flat-topped, and button-like, growing in terminal clusters and blooming from mid-to-late summer. Tansy smells somewhat like camphor with a bit of rosemary scent as well. Its stem is erect and leafy, growing about 2 to 3 feet high. The leaves are feathery fern-like and somewhat reminiscent of yarrow. Both the leaves and flowers are toxic if consumed in large quantities because of the volatile oil, thujone that they contain. Tansy also can cause contact dermatitis. Some insects, notably the tansy beetle, Chrysolina graminis, have resistance to the toxins and subsist almost exclusively on the plant.

It is native to Europe and Asia, but was brought to the U.S. in colonial times for medicinal and horticultural purposes.

Problems Posed by this Plant: Tansy does not pose problems in the Taylor Point ecosystem, but it can spread aggressively, particularly via its rhizomes.

Native Species Affected by this Plant:

Propagation Mechanisms and Related Issues Affecting Efforts to Remove and/or Eliminate this Plant from Taylor Point: Tansy propagates by self-seeding and by rhizomes.

Documented Best Removal Practices and Options/Pros and Cons of Various Options:

Case Studies of Removal Efforts, Lessons Learned and Recommendations:

Additional Photos: