How to Grow Great Feverfew

The herb feverfew had many uses over the years. It has been used in making sweets and wines. It has been used as an aromatic to help ward off diseases. It has also been used as an insect repellent. It has been used as a natural herbal remedy, and still is. It is very easy to grow feverfew in your home garden. Here are some tips to help you grow this herb in your garden.

Feverfew is a member of the daisy family. It has small white flowers that have yellow centers. It look very much like chamomile. The main way to tell these plants apart is that chamomile will bend over, while feverfew stands straight up. It is a perennial that will grow up to 3 feet tall. It is a wonderful plant if you want to help define borders in your garden. This plant is able to grow where other plants will not. It is wonderful to help fill in these hard to grow areas in your herb garden or even ornamental borders. It is hardy in temperature zones 4 to 9.

Feverfew grows best in full sun. The soil should be well drained. Plant the seeds in the spring after danger of frost has passed in your area. Scatter them on top of the soil and rake them in lightly. Once the seedlings have sprouted, thin them to about 12 inches apart. It is very possible that feverfew will spread outside of your garden. It will self seed profusely.

The leaves of the feverfew plant should be harvested in the summer before the blooms appear. The tops of the stems should be pinched back or cut off. The leaves can be dryed by spreading them in a single layer on a cloth or screen in the shade. The leaves should be stored in airtight containers that are away from any heat and light after they are dried. If you keep the spent flowers cut off, the plant will produce flowers all summer long.

There are varieties of feverfew that do not grow as tall. These can be used in rock gardens, window boxes, and containers. They will provide you with blossoms during the summer and fall. These can be dried to use in herb and flower arrangements.

Feverfew is a wonderful herb to grow in your home garden. It can be used for many natural herbal remedies and also can be used as an ornamental annual. The flowers are lovely and make a great addition to any flower bed. Hopefully, these tips will help you grow feverfew for whatever purpose you choose.

SOURCE

Editors of Rodale Organic Gardening Magazine and Books. "Rodale Organic Gardening Basics: Herbs Volume 5". 2001. Pennsylvania, USA.