Feverfew Herb

Feverfew herb (chrysanthemum parthenium) can masquerade as fresh white daisies in your perennial herb garden.

Feverfew self-sows readily enough to become a weed in the garden if you let it get out of control, so let it spread if you want more, or remove the spent flowers to keep it in bounds.

Feverfew is a traditional medicinal herb which is found in many old gardens, and is also occasionally grown for ornament.

The word "feverfew" derives from the Latin febrifugia, meaning "fever reducer." It has been used for reducing fever, for treating headaches, arthritis and digestive problems.

Description

Feverfew is a perennial that grows up to 2 feet tall in zones 5 to 7.

Flowers: Numerous small white daisylike flowers with golden centers bloom from midsummer to early fall.

Leaves: The light green to golden leaves are deeply lobed and divided into three segments; they generally grow up to 3 inches long. The plants will die back during the winter months.

Flavor and fragrance: Feverfew has a bitter flavor and aroma.

How To Grow

When to plant: Sow indoorsabout eight weeks before your last spring frost date and transplant to the garden a week or two after that date. South of zone 5 , plant directly in the garden once soil temperatures have reached 60 degrees F. Divide in the spring and take the root divisions with some stem in the early fall.

Where to plant: Feverfew prefers full sun but tolerates partial or filtered shade.

Soil and fertility: Plant in well-drained soils with average fertility. Excess nitrogen reduces flower production.

Plant spacing: Space the plants about 12 inches apart.

Pests: Aphids

Diseases: Susceptible to root rot in soggy soils.

Harvesting

When to harvest: Harvest the leaves in the morning when the dew has dried. Pick the leaves to dry for medicinal use before the plant blooms. Cut the flowers for freash or dried arrangements in dry weather, when the blooms are three-quarters open.

How to harvest: Snip off the individual leaves. Cut the whole stems an inch or so above the soils surface for drying.

Drying: Hang the stems upside down to air dry.

Freezing: Freeze the leaves in ice cubes.

Uses

Medicinal: Infusions of feverfew have been shown to reduce the frequency and severity of migraine headaches. Simply eating a few leaves a day also has this effect. Because they taste bitter, you may want to drizzle honey on them to mask the flavor.

Feverfew leaves also give relief from arthritis pain and impart calm and well-being.

Arrangements: Use the flowers in fresh arrangements or dry them for winter bouquets.

The medicinal benefits of the feverfew herb are in itself worth adding to your garden.