Feverfew is a well-known and popular medicinal plant. But what effect does false chamomile have? How to plant, care for and harvest them? With us you will learn everything about feverfew.
Feverfew has been a well-known medicinal herb for over 2000 years and has been deliberately cultivated ever since. The German name of the herb known as Tanacetum parthenium comes from its use during pregnancy: it is said to induce labor and speed up delivery. In the Middle Ages it was even administered in large quantities and was intended to induce an abortion. We'll tell you how to grow false chamomile in your garden at home, how to properly care for it and what else you can use it for.
False chamomile: properties and origin
Feverfew is native to south-eastern Europe and the eastern Mediterranean, but because of its well-established, widespread distribution throughout Europe it is considered an archaeophyte - a plant that is alien, but has been cultivated by humans for a very long time was spread. Feverfew can also be found today in large parts of the world, for example in North, Central and South America, Oceania, large parts of Asia, North Africa, on the Azores and Canary Islands, where it is considered a neophyte.
Occasionally, the herbaceous and perennial plant is also known as false chamomile, ornamental chamomile or feverweed - this always means the Tanacetum parthenium, which belongs to the daisy family (Asteraceae). . In the past, there was disagreement about the genus: Feverfew was first assigned to the camomile (Matricaria) before it was assigned to the chrysanthemums(Chrysanthemum ) counted. However, it is now classified as a subset of the frangipani (Tanacetum).
The herb, which is traditionally cultivated as an ornamental and medicinal plant in cottage gardens, grows between 30 and 80 cm high and forms delicate, pinnate leaves about 8 cm longout of. Feverfew is particularly noticeable because of its strong scent. The stem is ribbed and branches upwards while becoming woody near the base. Between May and August, the plant develops its flowers, which are around 1.5 to 2 cm in size and grow in umbel-like racemes or panicles. Its yellowish-tinged flower head of yellow tubular flowers, surrounded by white ray florets, is characteristic.
The flowers are a food source for some wild bee species such as the common silk bee (Colletes daviesanus) and the tansy mask bee (Hylaeus nigritus ). But they are also visited by honey bees and flies. Feverfew is therefore bee-friendly.
Their fruits are classified as achenes. They are relatively small, grooved, and have small appendages, the pappus, which enable them to spread either by wind or with the help of passing animals.
Risk of confusion with feverfew
Feverfew can easily be confused with other plants for two reasons: On the one hand, it looks like the common chamomile (Matricaria chamomilla) and the meadow marguerite ( Leucanthemum vulgare) confusingly similar, on the other hand the alpine feverfew (Mutellina adonidifolia) is also occasionally called "feverfew" in the vernacular.
In contrast to real chamomile, feverfew has a much flatter base, while real chamomile has a rounded, concave and hollow head. The flower of the real chamomile smells stronger than that of feverfew. The two plants also differ in the length of their white petals, which are significantly shorter in feverfew. The areas of application are diverse.
The meadow marguerite, on the other hand, can be easily distinguished by its leaves: It forms coarsely serrated basal leaves in the form of columns and leaves with few serrate to entire edges in the upper area, while the feverfew leaves are pinnately lobed.
Is false chamomile a weed?
Even if feverfew is often referred to as a weed, it is completely wrong. Mother chew has been used as a medicinal plant for thousands of years and is specifically cultivated in medicinal and cottage gardens.
The most important species of Tanacetum parthenium
By breeding and natural selectionsome feverfew varieties are produced. Introducing the most popular:
- ˈGolden Mossˈ: The plant, also known as feverfew, lives up to its name because it adorns itself with shimmering yellowish-green leaves all year round. The flowers are typical yellow baskets with white petals that bloom between June and September. In a sunny location, the Tanacetum parthenium ˈGolden Mossˈ even tolerates temperatures down to - 20 °C without any problems and grows quite small and only a maximum of 20 cm high.
- ˈAureumˈ: Like the golden-leaved feverfew, the yellow-leaved feverfew develops leaves with a yellow tinge, which is less noticeable in this variety. Flowers and growth are also typical of feverfew. Tanacetum parthenium ˈAureumˈ even grows up to 80 cm tall and can easily be overwintered in the bed.
- ˈPleniflorusˈ: The flowers of the double feverfew are particularly striking, and because of their abundance they differ visually from the other varieties. In good conditions it also grows up to 80 cm tall and flowers between June and September. Temperatures down to -18 °C are no problem for the stuffed feverfew.
Plant feverfew
Feverfew can be planted in your own garden without much effort. It should be noted that the plant naturally grows on loamy, nutrient-rich soil with moderate moisture. A suitable location with a neutral pH value offers advantages for the culture, whereby sandy or gravelly soils are still accepted. In addition, the soil should not dry out, as this is just as badly tolerated by feverfew as waterlogging. Feverfew thrives in full sun without any problems, but can also be planted in shaded locations.
In the spring, the first pre-grown plants are available in the garden center and can be placed directly in the bed. 2 to 4 plants per square meter can be planted in previously dug planting holes - without planting them deeper than they were in the pot before. Pressing lightly ensures good soil contact and subsequent watering promotes growth.
Alternatively, feverfew can be pre-cultured from March. For this purpose, appropriate sowing vessels with ahigh-quality seed compost, which has a reduced nutrient content to promote root growth. For example, our Plantura Organic Herb & Seed Soil promotes the root growth of the young plants through the specifically reduced nutrient content. In addition, thanks to its airy, loose structure, it ensures optimal growth conditions for germination in advance without silting up. In addition, our seed soil is completely harmless for pets and garden animals because of the completely natural raw materials.
Since feverfew germinates in the light, the feverfew seeds should only be placed on the ground and pressed lightly without being covered by the substrate. Thoroughly poured on, the seed pot can be covered with a transparent film in which a few holes are pierced. This creates a kind of mini greenhouse that provides the seeds with optimal germination conditions and high humidity. The seeds will germinate after 2 to 3 weeks in a bright place at around 15 °C. If the pre-cultivation of feverfew is too time-consuming, you can wait until April and sow the seeds directly outdoors using the same principle.
Care for false camomile
The false chamomile is generally quite undemanding and needs little care, even during the summer. Watering of the herbaceous plant is only necessary during longer periods of drought. Faded inflorescences should be cut out before the seeds are ready to prevent self-seeding. For targeted self-sowing without letting the false chamomile grow rampant, individual inflorescences can be left on the plant and ripen. Bloated shoots may be pruned back vigorously to promote bushy growth of the plant. Fertilization is not necessary for an annual culture of feverfew, for perennial culture some organic fertilizer such as manure or compost can be distributed around the plants in spring. Alternatively, a high-quality, ecological long-term fertilizer in granular form is used, which only releases its nutrients through microbial conversion in the soil. For example, our Plantura organic universal fertilizer is suitable for this, which thanks to its balanced nutrient ratio also optimally supplies herbs such as feverfew.
Is feverfew hardy? Feverfew is often planted as an annual summer flower. However, it can be readily cultivated as a perennial herbaceous plant and tolerates frosts of up to -12 °C without problems, some varieties even down to - 20 °C. The feverfew grows persistently, so the above-ground parts of the plant do not die. However, this should be cut back before the onset of frost to facilitate hibernation. It is advantageous for hibernation to protect feverfew against cold winds and the intense winter sun, for example with a fleece or a straw mat. However, it is important to ensure that the cover is permeable to air and moisture. Otherwise, air or moisture could build up underneath, which would damage the plant in the long term. Feverfew should be watered lightly on frost-free days, as water evaporates through the leaves even during winter.
Feverfew Harvesting, Uses and Medicinal Effects
Between June and October is feverfew harvest time, once the flowers have fully opened. As with real chamomile, these are then snapped off just below the inflorescence with your fingers or garden shears. The blossoms should be protected as much as possible and not damaged.
Feverfew has been used as a medicinal plant since the first century. In the Middle Ages it was mainly used for its antipyretic and headache-relieving effects, which explains the English name "feverfew", which can be translated as "less fever". However, it owes its German name to its use against pregnancy symptoms, the induction of labor and its speeding-up effect on labor. In addition, feverfew was administered in high doses in the Middle Ages to specifically trigger an abortion. In lower doses and for internal use as feverfew tea, tincture or extract, it can help against rheumatism or inhibit inflammation. Taken long-term, it is said to prevent migraine attacks, help against intestinal parasites and promote digestion. Applied externally, feverfew can help to cleanse the skin and protect against insects, as its smell scares insects away. It can also be used as a hair conditioner against lice.
Feverfew is not only cultivated and used as a medicinal plant, it is also an eye-catcher simply as an ornamental plant for the garden. It is particularly effective as an underplanting in combination with other flowering perennials such as roses. False chamomile even cuts a fine figure as a cut flower in a vase.
Is feverfew poisonous?
False chamomile is generally not poisonous, but high doses can lead to an abortion in pregnant women. In addition, all parts of the plant above ground contain ingredients that are considered contact allergens. People with an allergy to daisies react primarily to the substance parthenolide, which can trigger an allergic reaction. The plant does not pose a threat to most animals, but feverfew is poisonous to rabbits and should never be fed.
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