Tanacetum
vulgare (Compositeae) -
Also called "bitter buttons", tansy was imported from Europe, where it was formerly used in cooking and
folk medicine. Modern herbals discourage its use because it
contains thujone, which can be fatal. Two of my books list
it as highly toxic, never to be ingested, while others list
it as a culinary herb. Go figure. It is nicely aromatic, and it is also listed as a useful deterrent to ants, who don't like the smell.
Blooms late summer. (Photographed in WI)
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