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Tanacetum cinerariifolium - (Trevir.)Sch.Bip.

Common Name Dalmation Pellitory, Pyrethrum
Family Asteraceae or Compositae
USDA hardiness 5-9
Known Hazards Some people are highly allergic to this plant[160]. Prolonged contact with the dried flowers can lead to allergic dermatitis, allergic rhinitis and asthma in humans[268].
Habitats Rocky ground[50], usually by the seashore[4].
Range Europe - Dalmatia, Yugoslavia.
Edibility Rating    (0 of 5)
Other Uses    (4 of 5)
Weed Potential No
Medicinal Rating    (1 of 5)
Care (info)
Fully Hardy Well drained soil Moist Soil Full sun
Tanacetum cinerariifolium Dalmation Pellitory, Pyrethrum


http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Koeh-269.jpg
Tanacetum cinerariifolium Dalmation Pellitory, Pyrethrum
http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/User:KENPEI

 

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Summary


Physical Characteristics

 icon of manicon of flower
Tanacetum cinerariifolium is a PERENNIAL growing to 0.5 m (1ft 8in) by 0.5 m (1ft 8in).
See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 6 and is not frost tender. It is in flower from July to September, and the seeds ripen from August to September. The species is hermaphrodite (has both male and female organs) and is pollinated by Bees, flies. The plant is self-fertile.
Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils and prefers well-drained soil. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils and can grow in very alkaline soils.
It cannot grow in the shade. It prefers dry or moist soil. The plant can tolerate maritime exposure.

UK Hardiness Map US Hardiness Map

Synonyms

Chrysanthemum cinerariifolium. Pyrethrum cinerariifolium.

Habitats

 Cultivated Beds;

Edible Uses

None known

References   More on Edible Uses

Medicinal Uses

Plants For A Future can not take any responsibility for any adverse effects from the use of plants. Always seek advice from a professional before using a plant medicinally.
Vermifuge

Dalmatian pellitory is not used medicinally, though research has shown that the flowers possess weak antibiotic activity[268]. The flowers are the main source of the insecticide pyrethrum, which is toxic to insects but not to mammals. It has sometimes been used as a vermifuge in China[147].

References   More on Medicinal Uses

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FOOD FOREST PLANTS

Other Uses

Insecticide  Repellent

The dried flower buds are the source of the insecticide 'Pyrethrum'[1, 4, 14, 18, 46, 57, 61]. The pyrethrins are produced in the yellow disc florets[169]. The highest pyrethrin content is from the flowers when they are in full bloom (1.22%) and lowest in the preceding period (0.71%)[240]. This insecticide also kills many beneficial insects, though it is relatively harmless to mammals[4]. Another report says that it is non-toxic to mammals[238]. It is best used in the evening so that it will have lost much of its virulence by the morning[201]. Steep two handfuls of the dried powdered flowers in one litre of hot water for an hour. This mixture can be either pureed or strained and then used as a spray[201]. Once dried, the flowers or the powder retain their insecticidal properties almost indefinitely[238]. The growing plant can be used as an insect repellent in the garden[14, 18, 20]. Effective against mosquitoes and ants[201].

Special Uses

Carbon Farming

References   More on Other Uses

Cultivation details

Industrial Crop: Pesticide  Management: Hay  Minor Global Crop

Succeeds in an ordinary garden soil[1]. Prefers a rich soil with plenty of humus[147]. Prefers a pebbly, calcareous dry soil in a sunny position[4]. When grown in moist climates the plants often die after flowering[4].Tolerates a pH in the range 5.2 to 7.5. Pyrethrum is widely cultivated as a source of an insecticide[57, 61], the growing plant is also said to repel insects from plants growing nearby[14, 18, 20].

Carbon Farming

  • Industrial Crop: Pesticide  Many plants provide natural pesticides.
  • Management: Hay  Cut to the ground and harvested annually. Non-destructive management systems maintaining the soil organic carbon.
  • Minor Global Crop  These crops are already grown or traded around the world, but on a smaller scale than the global perennial staple and industrial crops, The annual value of a minor global crop is under $1 billion US. Examples include shea, carob, Brazil nuts and fibers such as ramie and sisal.

References   Carbon Farming Information and Carbon Sequestration Information

Temperature Converter

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Propagation

Seed - sow spring in a greenhouse. Only just cover the seed and do not allow the pot to dry out. Prick out the seedlings into individual pots once they are large enough to handle and grow them on in the greenhouse for their first winter. Plant out in late spring or early summer. Division in spring. Larger divisions can be planted out direct into their permanent positions. We have found that it is best to pot up smaller divisions and grow them on in light shade in a greenhouse or cold frame until they are growing away well. Plant them out in the summer or the following spring.

Other Names

If available other names are mentioned here

Native Plant Search

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Found In

Countries where the plant has been found are listed here if the information is available

Weed Potential

Right plant wrong place. We are currently updating this section. Please note that a plant may be invasive in one area but may not in your area so it’s worth checking.

Conservation Status

IUCN Red List of Threatened Plants Status :

Related Plants
Latin NameCommon NameHabitHeightHardinessGrowthSoilShadeMoistureEdibleMedicinalOther
Tanacetum balsamitaAlecost, CostmaryPerennial0.9 5-9  LMHSNDM321
Tanacetum coccineumPyrethrum, Pyrethum daisy, Persian Insect Flower, Painted DaisyPerennial0.6 4-10 MLMHSNM003
Tanacetum partheniumFeverfew, MatricariaPerennial0.6 5-8 MLMHNDM252
Tanacetum vulgareTansy, Common tansy, Golden Buttons, Curly Leaf TansyPerennial1.0 3-9 FLMHNDM224

Growth: S = slow M = medium F = fast. Soil: L = light (sandy) M = medium H = heavy (clay). pH: A = acid N = neutral B = basic (alkaline). Shade: F = full shade S = semi-shade N = no shade. Moisture: D = dry M = Moist We = wet Wa = water.

 

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Expert comment

Author

(Trevir.)Sch.Bip.

Botanical References

50200

Links / References

For a list of references used on this page please go here

Readers comment

Hermann Schultka   Fri Sep 21 2007

Die Ausführungen zur Pyrethrumpflanze sind sehr gut. Meine Frage,wo kann ich einige Jungpflanzen für Lehrzwecke beziehen? Hermann Schultka Gartenbaulehrer

Cottbus

ray congdon   Sun Jan 17 2010

dear sir my daughter is wondering if these plants would be harmfull to her chooks in any form (living plant or dried flowers )

david   Sun Jan 17 2010

I don't know anything about this but a quick search found the following website from the University of British Columia: www.ableweb.org/volumes/vol-10/9-taylor.pdf which says they are harmless to man & animals.The site does mention other plants toxic to poultry. But see note on allergies in humans above.

   May 17 2013 12:00AM

range needs to be corrected-there is no such thing as Yugoslavia, and Dalmatia is actually part of Croatia

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