Tansy

Tansy is a robust, herbaceous, perennial flowering plant belonging to the aster family, Asteraceae, native to temperate Europe and Asia. It is easily recognized by its bright, button-like yellow flower clusters and deeply divided, fern-like leaves that release a strong, camphor-like scent when crushed. Historically utilized for medicinal, culinary, and preservative purposes, tansy has also found a strong place in companion planting due to its natural pest-repellent properties. However, modern horticulture approaches tansy with caution because it contains volatile oils, particularly thujone, which can be toxic if ingested in large quantities by humans or livestock. Despite these toxicity concerns, it remains a resilient garden addition that thrives in poor soils and full sun.