Feverfew is a small daisy-family herb with white petals around a flat yellow button, long grown as a folk remedy for headaches. Native to the Balkans and western Asia, it now grows in many US states, where it self-seeds so freely that it can turn weedy.
Appearance
- Growth form
- A short-lived, bushy perennial about 1–3 ft (30–90 cm) tall that forms mounds.
- Leaves
- Yellow-green, fern-like leaves, deeply lobed with toothed edges and a strong, bitter smell.
- Flowers
- Small daisy-like heads about ¾ in (2 cm) across, with short white rays around a yellow center.
- Flowering time
- June to September
Look-alikes
German chamomileMatricaria chamomilla
Chamomile has very fine, threadlike leaves and a domed flower center that is hollow inside. Feverfew has broader, toothed, lobed leaves and a flat, button-like center.
Why they get mixed upBoth are small white-and-yellow daisy herbs.
Where it lives
- Typical habitats
- Gardens
- Stony slopes
- Gravelly riverbeds
- Range
- Native to the Balkans, Anatolia, and the Caucasus. Introduced in about 30 US states, including North Carolina, Oregon, and New York.
- Preferred conditions
- Prefers full sun; in the wild it grows on stony slopes and gravelly riverbeds. Hardy in USDA zones 5–8.
- Flowering
Flowers Jun–Sep
Flowers Jun–Sep
Life cycle
- Seed dispersal
- Reseeds heavily and can become aggressive; helps keep it in check.
Cautions
- Cautions
- Can cause skin rashes in people allergic to daisy-family plants, and chewing the leaves may cause mouth sores. It is also listed as a problem plant for dogs, cats, and horses.
Name and classification
- About the name
- Formerly placed in Chrysanthemum (Chrysanthemum parthenium) and Matricaria.
- Varieties and forms
- Garden varieties include double-flowered types such as 'Ultra Double White' and the creamy-yellow 'Golden Ball', and the golden-leaved 'Aureum'.
Conservation
- IUCN Red List
- NENot EvaluatedNot yet assessed
Culture and stories
- Culture and stories
- The name feverfew probably traces to the Latin febrifugia, a fever remedy, or to the older English "featherfew."
- Greek physician Dioscorides described it in the first century CE.
- It's sold as a migraine supplement, but clinical evidence of benefit is lacking, and products can vary widely in their active compound.
More species to explore
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