Common Tansy

How to grow Common Tansy

Written by the GardenDecoded editorial team · Last reviewed 21 July 2026 · Written for UK gardens · How we research our guidance

Planting

Plant in spring in an open, sunny position. It runs at the root, so give it room in a wild or informal area, or plant it into a sunken bottomless container in a border to keep it in bounds.

Pruning

Cut back to the base in late autumn or leave the stems for winter structure and clear them in early spring. Removing the flat flower heads before the seed ripens cuts down on self-sowing.

Propagation

Divide in spring or autumn; the spreading rootstock gives plenty of material. Seed germinates easily but is rarely necessary.

Pests and diseases

Very few problems. Aphids sometimes cluster on the flowering stems in midsummer.

Value to wildlife

The button flowers attract hoverflies, solitary bees and small beetles, and the plant supports a number of specialist insects including the tansy beetle where its range overlaps. The strong scent of the crushed foliage is characteristic.

Notes

Tansy spreads by rhizome and by seed, and can take over a small border within a few years — site it accordingly. It has a long history of household and medicinal use, but gardeners should check its toxicity before planting where children or pets have free access.

This guidance was researched and written by GardenDecoded — see our editorial policy for how guides are checked and reviewed.

Other names for this plant

These names have all been used for Tanacetum vulgare but are no longer the accepted name. You may still meet them on old labels, in books, or in nursery catalogues.

Others in Tanacetum