Lake Huron Tansy
Tanacetum bipinnatum
- Native to:
- Canada, Russia, United States
John Rusk (www.flickr.com) from Berkeley, CA, United States of America
Taxonomy
- Division:
- Magnoliophyta | - Flowering plants
- Family:
- Asteraceae
- Genus:
- Tanacetum
- Species:
- Tanacetum bipinnatum
- USDA Symbol:
- TABI
Growth Characteristics
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Growth Habit:
- Forb/herb
- Height:
- 40 cm
- Light Requirements:
- Full Sun
- Drought Tolerance:
- Medium
- Bloom Months:
- jun,jul,aug
- Bloom Colors:
- yellow
Wildlife Benefits
- Bees:
- ★☆☆☆☆ Documented bee visitation (GBIF)
- Butterflies & Moths:
- ★☆☆☆☆ Documented Lepidoptera association (GBIF)
Garden & Ecology Notes
- Wildlife Value:
- bees, butterflies
- Deer Resistant:
- Yes
- Fragrant:
- Yes
Soil Requirements
- Soil Type:
- sandy, well-drained, nutrient-poor soil
- pH:
- 6.0 - 7.5 (slightly acidic to neutral)
- Drainage:
- excellent drainage required
- Moisture:
- dry to moderate
- Notes:
- Common in coastal and rocky areas
Propagation & Germination
- Stratification:
- Cold/moist stratification required — 30–60 days
- Germination Time:
- 14–28 days
- Notes:
- Seeds germinate readily with light; surface sow and do not cover deeply.
The above propagation data sourced from Claude AI
Pre-treatment: Seeds are non-dormant, but fall sowing results in earlier germination in the spring and less seedling mortality if guarded from frost.
Establishment: Seed viability is relatively low and sowing multiple seeds per container is advisable. It is common for only 70% of tubes to end up with an actively growing tansy plant, even at this high sow-rate.
Source: npn.rngr.net
ORGHPS Germination Guide: Sow immediately, Either the viability of these seeds is short or the species propagates best with fresh seed. Stored seed might be coaxed into germination with temperature cycling and patience. Sow @ 4°C for 3 weeks, then place at 20°C. Requires light or the seed is very fine. Surface sow and expose to light. * 4 weeks cold in light is best approach but still has only 10% germination