Tanacetum parthenium

Botanical Name: Tanacetum parthenium
Family: Asteraceae (Daisy family)

What We're Growing:
We grow feverfew for its dainty white flowers and strong herbal benefits. It resembles a miniature daisy but carries a potent aroma and an even stronger purpose — supporting both pollinators and people.

How We Use It:
While bitter in taste, feverfew leaves are used sparingly in tinctures and capsules rather than teas or culinary dishes. We grow it primarily for its medicinal qualities, harvesting the aerial parts when in bloom for use in small-batch herbal formulas.

Why It’s Good for You:
Feverfew is most well-known as a natural migraine remedy, traditionally used to reduce the frequency and severity of headaches. It contains parthenolide, a compound believed to help regulate blood vessel tone and inhibit inflammation, making it useful for head pain and menstrual-related discomfort.

Beyond migraine support, feverfew has been studied for its ability to ease joint pain and reduce fever — hence its name. It’s also been used in traditional herbal medicine to tone the uterus, calm nerves, and support circulatory health. Like many medicinal plants, its healing comes not just from its chemical makeup but from its long history of gentle, consistent use.

In the Garden:
Feverfew is a hardy perennial that thrives in full sun and average soil. It self-seeds easily and blooms through summer, attracting pollinators with its bright blossoms. Its strong scent helps deter pests, making it an excellent companion plant in regenerative systems.

Fun Fact:
Historically, feverfew was known as “medieval aspirin” and was planted in monastery gardens across Europe as a go-to remedy for fevers, headaches, and melancholy.