Chrysanthemum parthenium

Sunset

Zones 2-24, 31-45

Full

Moderate, Minimal

Feverfew
Asteraceae (Compositae)
Perennials

CHRYSANTHEMUM

There are about 160 species of chrysanthemum, mostly native to China, Japan, and Europe. Included are some of the most popular and useful of garden plants—the top favorite being C. x grandiflorum, whose modern descendants are known as florists' chrysanthemums.

Taxonomists have split the Chrysanthemum into a number of new genera—and, in certain cases, changed their minds and returned some species to the original genus.

Chrysanthemum parthenium

Native to southern Europe, Caucasus. Compact, leafy, aggressive, spreading by volunteer seedlings; once favored in Victorian gardens. Plants are covered in small yellow, white, or yellow-centere white daisies in summer. Leaves have strong peppery scent that some people find offensive. Varieties range from 1 to 3 ft. tall. One variety has golden-green leaves.