Tansy Tanacetum vulgare 'Isla Gold' (v)
ABOUT
The 'Isla Gold' variety of tansy is an ornamental plant notable for its striking foliage and bright yellow flowers. The leaves of this plant are finely divided and fern-like in appearance with a beautiful golden-yellow hue that adds a vibrant splash of color to any garden setting. The leaves are arranged in an alternating pattern along the stems, giving the plant a dense, bushy look. In summer, the tansy 'Isla Gold' produces clusters of small, button-like flowers perched atop sturdy stems. These flowers are a brighter yellow than the leaves and form flat-topped arrays that are both eye-catching and attractive to pollinators such as bees and butterflies. The contrast between the golden leaves and the lemon-yellow flowers creates a stunning display that can brighten up a garden space. Throughout the growing season, the foliage of tansy 'Isla Gold' remains vibrant, providing long-lasting color and texture. This plant is often used in borders, herb gardens, or as a part of a mixed planting, offering a robust and colorful complement to other plants in the landscape. Given its ornamental appeal and bright coloring, tansy 'Isla Gold' is a popular choice for gardeners looking to create a focal point or to add a touch of cheerfulness to their outdoor spaces.
About this plant
- Names
Family
Asteraceae
Synonyms
Golden Tansy, Isla Gold Tansy, Golden Buttons, Yellow Tansy
Common names
Chrysanthemum vulgare (L.) Bernh., Pyrethrum vulgare (L.) Boiss., Tanacetum boreale Fisch. ex DC.
- Characteristics
Life cycle
Perennials
Foliage type
Deciduous
Color of leaves
Yellow-green
Flower color
Yellow
Height
2 feet (0.6 meters)
Spread
2 feet (0.6 meters)
Plant type
Herb
Hardiness zones
3
Native area
Europe
Benefits
- General Benefits
- Ornamental Appeal: 'Isla Gold' (v) adds vibrant color to gardens with its bright yellow-green foliage.
- Drought Resistance: Once established, it has low water requirements and can tolerate periods of drought.
- Pest Resistance: It is generally resistant to many common garden pests.
- Ease of Care: This plant is low-maintenance, requiring minimal care once it has settled into its location.
- Adaptability: It can grow in a wide range of soil types, including poor soils, as long as they are well-drained.
- Culinary Use: The leaves can be used as a flavoring herb in cooking, although it should be used sparingly due to its strong taste.
- Medical Properties
- Anti-inflammatory: Tansy has been traditionally used to reduce inflammation.
- Antiparasitic: It has been used historically to treat intestinal worms and other parasitic infections.
- Antimicrobial: The plant's essential oils have been studied for their potential antimicrobial properties against various microbes.
- Menstruation Regulation: Tansy has been used in traditional medicine to promote menstrual flow.
- Digestive Aid: It has been used traditionally to treat digestive issues such as gas and bloating.
- Air-purifying Qualities
This plant is not specifically known for air purifying qualities.
- Other Uses
- Tansy can be used as a natural dye, providing a yellow or green color depending on the mordant used.
- This plant can serve as a companion plant in the garden to repel certain types of pests like ants and some beetles.
- It's used in some traditions for making flavored spirits, where its leaves can impart a unique bitterness to the concoction.
- The dried flowers and leaves can be used in potpourri blends, contributing a pungent aroma that can deter insects even indoors.
- Tansy can be added to compost heaps as a natural activator to help speed up the breakdown of organic materials.
- It can be planted to help prevent soil erosion due to its dense growth and strong root system.
- Because of its toxicity to certain animals, it has been used to keep domesticated animals like dogs and cats out of gardens.
- The flowers of tansy can be pressed and used in crafts such as botanical prints, natural artworks, or to make bookmarks.
- The plant's essential oil, rich in thujone, has been used in the past as a natural wood preservative.
- Gardeners sometimes plant tansy near fruit trees to enhance their health and vigor by repelling certain pests.
Interesting Facts
- Feng Shui
Tansy is not used in Feng Shui practice.
- Zodiac Sign Compitability
Tansy is not used in astrology practice.
- Plant Symbolism
- Protection: Tansy, the common name for Tanacetum vulgare, historically symbolizes protection. People would hang tansy to ward off insects and believed it could also dispel negative energy.
- Health: With a history of use in traditional medicine, tansy can represent health or healing. The plant was often used for its supposed medicinal properties, which conveys a symbolic wish for wellbeing.
- Immortality: Tansy has a strong, enduring aroma and is resistant to decay when cut; hence, in the language of flowers, it may also symbolize immortality or everlasting life.
- Hostility: In Victorian times, sending tansy meant communicating a message of hostility or declaring war, due to the plant's intense and overpowering nature.
- Water
Tansy (Tanacetum vulgare 'Isla Gold') should be watered deeply to encourage root growth, but it's vital to allow the soil to dry out between waterings as this plant is drought tolerant and prefers not to be overwatered. During the active growing season in spring and summer, watering approximately once a week with about 1 inch (or about 0.623 gallons) of water should be sufficient, depending on the local weather conditions and soil drainage. In the fall and winter, reduce watering frequency as the plant goes dormant and its water requirements decrease.
- Light
Tansy prefers full sun, so it's best to plant it in a location where it can receive at least 6 to 8 hours of direct sunlight each day. It can tolerate some light shade, especially in hotter climates, but full sun will ensure the most vigorous growth and best flowering results.
- Temperature
Tansy can withstand a wide temperature range but thrives best in moderate conditions. It survives in temperatures as low as -30°F and as high as 90°F, but ideally, it prefers temperatures between 60°F to 75°F. Ensure that the plant is not subjected to prolonged temperatures at the extremes of its tolerance to avoid stress.
- Pruning
Pruning tansy helps to maintain its shape, promote denser foliage, and encourage more vigorous growth. Cut back the plant in early spring before new growth starts, and after flowering, trim any spent flowers to encourage a second bloom. Tansy can be pruned again in late fall to tidy the plant and prepare it for winter.
- Cleaning
As needed
- Soil
Tansy 'Isla Gold' thrives in well-draining, sandy loam to loamy soil with a neutral to slightly alkaline pH of 6.0 to 7.5. For best results, mix two parts garden soil, one part peat moss or compost, and one part sand or perlite to ensure good drainage.
- Repotting
Golden buttons or golden tansy, as Tanacetum vulgare 'Isla Gold' is commonly known, does not require frequent repotting. Repotting can be done every 2-3 years or as needed if the plant becomes root-bound or the soil appears depleted.
- Humidity & Misting
Golden tansy prefers average room humidity levels. It is a hardy plant that can tolerate a range of humidity conditions and typically thrives without needing special humidity adjustments.
- Suitable locations
Indoor
Place in bright, indirect light and ensure good airflow.
Outdoor
Plant in full sun to partial shade, well-drained soil.
Hardiness zone
3-9 USDA
- Life cycle
Tanacetum vulgare 'Isla Gold', commonly known as Golden Tansy, starts its life cycle as a seed, often undergoing a period of cold stratification to break dormancy. Upon germination, it develops a rosette of finely divided, aromatic, yellow-green foliage. As it matures, the plant produces sturdy stems and a proliferation of button-like yellow flowers in the summer, which are attractive to many pollinators. After pollination, seeds develop and are dispersed by wind, allowing the plant to propagate. In the fall, Golden Tansy typically dies back to the ground in colder climates but can remain evergreen in milder regions. It completes its life cycle by regrowing from the same root system year after year, classifying it as a perennial plant.
- Propogation
Propogation time
Late Spring-Early Summer
Propogation: Tansy 'Isla Gold' is typically propagated by division, which is best performed in early spring or fall. To propagate by division, carefully dig up an established clump of tansy and use a sharp spade or knife to split the clump into smaller sections, ensuring each has a portion of the root system. Replant the divisions at the same depth they were originally growing, spacing them about 12 to 18 inches (30 to 45 centimeters) apart to allow room for growth. Water the new divisions thoroughly to establish them in their new locations. This method is favored for its simplicity and effectiveness in producing exact clones of the parent plant.