Feverfew is a lovely plant with many practical uses in the garden. It requires little upkeep and is a wonderful friend. Growing feverfew from seed is enjoyable because of the diversity of variations in the flower; you can get a wide range of colours and textures. This post provides a thorough explanation of feverfew plant growth.
Feverfew Plant Overview
| Scientific Name | Tanacetum parthenium |
| Soil | Organic, loamy, sandy |
| Temperature | 55 – 75 Fahrenheit |
| Light | Full Sun |
| Plant Width | 12 – 18” |
| Height | 9- 12” |
| Hardiness Zone | 5 -10 (USDA) |
| Days to Harvest | 80 -90 days |
| Maturity | 90 days |
| Germination | 10 -14 Days |
| Seeding Depth | 1/4” |
How to Grow
Growing feverfew is just as simple as increasing chamomile, its twin. This herb requires very little care to remain an annual or perennial. Plant it near borders or in naturally occurring areas where it can freely slow down. For a feverfew plant to flourish, it needs loamy soil and warm sunshine.
Soil
The perfect soil for feverfew is light, fluffy, easily draining, and consistently moist. Using a broad fork or digging fork, loosen up heavy clay soils and add organic matter that has decomposed.
To increase its ability to hold water, sandy soil will likely need compost or leaf mould. This herb absorbs minerals well in a pH range of 6.0 to 7.2. Add wood ashes, limestone, or compost to your soil if it’s too acidic.
Light
Even in places with little shade, feverfews love direct sunlight. Plants growing in partial shade could not produce as many fragrant or abundant flowers.
This herb is a long-day plant; therefore, the quantity of daylight it receives has a big impact on when it flowers. When the days get longer around the summer solstice, plants usually begin to blossom.
Indoor plants, with their fondness for sunlight, often grow lanky and unhappy. Considering how hard it is, there’s no need to spend your indoor growing space on feverfew. Containers used outside on patios are ideal for this herb.
Water
Feverfew thrives best on consistently wet soil. It cannot withstand protracted dry spells. For the plant, somewhat damp soil is ideal, but it should never be bone dry or overly saturated. It’s ideal to mulch your feverfew plants with chopped leaves or a layer of compost if you don’t get much summer rain.
You may need to water one to three times a week when the weather is dry. Reduced watering is necessary for soil with high organic matter content because organic matter retains moisture.
Climate and Temperature
Feverfew grows best in warm, sunny conditions. Plants can be cultivated as annuals in colder areas, although perennials can be planted in zones 5 through 10. Even in a latent stage, a well-established plant may flourish at a shocking -20°F. Summertime temperatures in the seventies and eighties are ideal for the herb.
The ideal temperature range for seed germination is 70 °F. For feverfew kinds with cut flowers, indoor seeding, and transplanting usually work best. Wild types can be sown as soon as the danger of frost has gone.
Fertilizer
Fertile soil high in organic content is ideal for growing feverfew. High-quality compost ought to be rich in nutrients. To improve poor soils, add small amounts of all-purpose, slow-release fertilizer.
High-nitrogen fertilizers are best avoided while growing this herb—or any other herb. If the plant gets too much nitrogen, it could produce a lot of foliage but few flowers. Over-fertilization also reduces the blossoms’ beautiful scent.
Propagation
Feverfew is a wildflower that spreads readily from seed, cuttings, or root divisions. Once established, underground runners will allow the plant to progressively grow by self-sowing. Although feverfew is quick to spread, it is not usually an invasive plant. Reluctant seedlings are simple to remove.
How to Grow Feverfew from Cuttings
Softwood cuttings are another easy way to get a feverfew patch started. You can grow a feverfew plant by rooting a few stem clippings from a thriving plant that you or a friend already own.
- Pick a robust, well-maintained feverfew plant.
- Locate a non-flowering, 4-6″ long stem.
- Use sterile shears to cut the stem just below a node.
- Take off the bottom two to three inches of leaves.
- The cutting’s bottom can be immersed in rooting hormone if desired.
- The clipping should be put in a jar with potting mix or water. Soak only the bottom 2-3″ of the material.
- Put it in a warm, well-lit spot with plenty of indirect light.
- Maintain constant moisture levels and change the water regularly.
- When roots begin to appear, give it a week or two before moving it into a pot.
Since feverfew cuttings root best in warm soil, using a heating pad may increase your chances of success.
How to Propagate Feverfew from Seed
The best time to plant feverfew, according to most gardeners, is early spring, as soon as the soil is workable. Around the first frost, you can also start the plant indoors and move the seedlings outdoors.
As a seedling, feverfew is sensitive, but as it grows larger, it becomes rather hardy. Nevertheless, the extra work of covering the delicate perennial plants with row cloth or placing them in a greenhouse is necessary to help them survive the winter.
The following are the best dates to plant:
- Direct sowing: 1-3 weeks before the last frost date
- Fall transplanting: 3-4 weeks before first frost
- Spring transplanting: Sow 5-7 weeks before last frost
Remember these tips to grow the best feverfew seedlings:
Sow feverfew shallowly
The most crucial tip to keep in mind when planting feverfew is to never cover the seeds! For these tiny seeds to be guaranteed to germinate, they must be sown very shallowly in a light area. Use a mister or a very gentle spray of water to maintain moisture in the soil without altering the planting location.
If direct sowing takes place outside, seeds can be scattered into bare soil. This simulates how feverfew spreads naturally. Make sure you remove all weeds from the space completely to avoid grasses or other plants outcompeting the feverfew seedlings.
Germination time and temperature
The ideal soil temperature for feverfew is around 70 °F, and it takes 7–14 days for it to germinate. If planted directly in the garden, though, it can withstand colder temperatures. In colder climates, a layer of row cover can help promote more equal germination, although it’s typically not required.
Keep the seeds of feverfew constantly moist until the plants begin to produce true leaves. There is no need for a germination heat mat or artificial illumination as long as seedlings receive 6–8 hours of direct sunlight.
Don’t forget to thin
You can either scatter the seeds widely or plant a few seeds every eight to twelve inches. It’s crucial to thin out seedlings to one plant per eight to twelve inches after they start to sprout genuine leaves. Giving each plant around 12″ of spacing in all directions is ideal when growing as a perennial.
Feverfew overpopulation may produce weak, unsightly plants. To form an eye-catching continuous display, the individual thinned plants will eventually mound and bush into one another.
Care
Feverfew requires little upkeep, save for regular irrigation. If you grow feverfew as a perennial, you can clip it back to the ground after the first hard winter. When the plant regenerates in the spring, new, lovely growth will appear.
When growing in ideal conditions, feverfew is a self-seeding plant that spreads swiftly. It may take over your garden, but you may have to remove it. Reluctant seedlings are easily pulled out. Once a year, they should be separated to prevent lumps from becoming out of control.
Pests and Diseases
Feverfew is naturally resistant to many garden pests and illnesses. Your only potential issue is aphids (don’t they seem to eat everything?).
Use a powerful stream of water to eradicate aphids from this lovely yellow-and-white shrub. If the infection is severe, discard the damaged plant parts and apply a diluted neem solution to the herb.
Conclusion
All you need to do now is start sowing seeds or transplanting them into your garden, as you have gained all the knowledge necessary to develop this beautiful flower. You’ll gain numerous advantages by incorporating a few of them into your garden area because they have a variety of functions.
FAQ
What are the best places for feverfew to grow?
Complete sunshine and loamy, well-drained soil are ideal growing conditions for feverfew. It grows well in meadows with wildflowers and around the edges of landscapes.
What are feverfew’s disadvantages?
Spreading easily is the biggest disadvantage of feverfew. Even though this self-seeding plant can be aggressive when cultivated under ideal conditions, it is not always invasive.
Eliminating dead flower heads and dividing the plant clumps annually are the best ways to control feverfew. Additionally, you can cultivate feverfew in a naturalized area or cottage garden on the edges of your landscape.
Is it simple to grow a feverfew?
Growing feverfew is a relatively simple, non-fussy herb. It is quite easy to grow this bloom from seed, cutting, or division. Plant in a location with lots of sunlight and soil that drains properly.