Plant ID

[sandbender]

Can anyone ID this plant for me, apparently folks make tea from it, it also seems to attract a huge number of bees to the garden it is situated in.

Thanks in advance.

 

[Toddy]

Does it smell really strongly ?

It looks like Tansy.

M

 

[shaggystu]

Does it smell really strongly ?

It looks like Tansy.

M

i'd go with that

 

[sandbender]

I've had a look at the Wikipedia page and I think you are both correct, the tea thing may have been a mistranslation on my part.

Thanks.

 

[shaggystu]

tansy's supposed to be good for keeping flies away, my dad's dad was a butcher and he used to grow masses of the stuff by the back door to the shop for that reason.

snipped from the wikipedia article

....A bitter tea made with tansy flowers has been used for centuries as an anthelmintic to treat parasitic worm infestations.....

having a quick read it would appear to be quite a useful plant, thanks for getting me to look it up

 

[sandbender]

"...having a quick read it would appear to be quite a useful plant, thanks for getting me to look it up ..."

No worries. The thing which made it stand out was just how many bees (of all types) were attracted to it, a very busy part of the garden.

 

[Toddy]

Mine's not in flower just yet, but when it does it swarms with little hover flies
Fun to watch them like miniature humming birds.
It does seem to deter bluebottles and such like though

The tea is a traditional Spring tonic. It used to be made into cakes and fed to children. It cleared out worms.
Nowadays it is 'contraindicated' and it's use is not recommended.

I get beautiful yellow and green dyes from it

Once established it spreads by underground stolons, like nettles do. If anyone wants some I'll dig up a few bits and post.

cheers,
M

 

[British Red]

Weirdly hover flies also love parsnip flowers.....that are eight foot tall.....maddest thing I have grown this year.....and I'm growing some mad stuff

 

[sandbender]

"...that are eight foot tall..."

Pictures man! Pictures.

 

[British Red]

I'll do some tomorrow....eight foot parsnip plants are a sight to behold

I'm going to have a lot of heritage parsnip seed if they ripen well

 

[xylaria]

Tansy was mixed with stewed apple and then set with a egg. Like a fruity omlette. it was a wormer for little kids.