Fauna
Plant

Tansy

Tanacetum vulgare

Also known as Common Tansy, Bitter Buttons, Cow Bitter, Golden Buttons

Tansy forms tall, aromatic clumps topped with dense button-like clusters of bright yellow flowers throughout mid to late summer. Its deeply divided, fern-like leaves release a strong, camphor-like scent when bruised, historically prized as a natural insect repellent. Native to Eurasia, this resilient perennial spreads vigorously along roadsides, pastures, and disturbed soils via creeping underground rhizomes.

PerennialAromaticInvasive Potential
Tansy reference1 / 7
(c) Maria, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Maria · cc-by
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Least ConcernConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXLeast ConcernRed List categories, explained →
Key facts
Diet & preySunlight, Water, Soil Minerals
Predators
  • Tansy Beetle
  • Aphids
  • Moth Caterpillars
ThreatsHerbicides, biological controls
HabitatsRoadsides, meadows, riverbanks, waste areas
Life spanPerennial (5–10+ years)
Classification
  1. OrderAsterales
  2. FamilyAsteraceae
  3. GenusTanacetum
  4. SpeciesTanacetum vulgare
Range & activity
Range data is not available yet.
Safe observation
Interaction riskHigh
  1. Low
  2. Moderate
  3. High
  4. Very high
Why interaction risk is high
Contains toxic thujone; do not ingest and keep away from livestock and pets.
Why it is dangerous
Contains toxic volatile oils high in thujone, causing severe stomach pain, convulsions, and liver damage if consumed.
How to recognize a risky encounter
Recognizable by flat, seed-like yellow button flower heads lacking white petals and highly lobed aromatic leaves.
What to do
Never consume any part of the wild plant and wear gloves when clearing stems.
Responsible observation
  • Identification: Look for flat yellow button heads lacking distinct outer ray petals.
  • Gardening: Avoid planting near pasture borders where livestock might graze.
  • Safety: Wear gloves when hand-pulling dense stands to minimize direct contact with sap.
Related species
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