Feverfew

Feverfew is a short-lived perennial in the daisy family, grown as a herb and an ornamental. It carries clusters of small white daisies with yellow centres, 18 to 24 inches tall, over aromatic, finely cut, lime-green foliage, from early summer for months. The double and golden-leaved forms ('Aureum') are the ones most often sold. Its name records a long history in herbal medicine; in the garden it is valued for the long bloom and its habit of filling gaps.

It grows easily from seed and tolerates poor soil. Sow on the surface in spring, since the seed needs light, and thin or plant out 12 to 18 inches apart in full sun or part shade. Deadhead to extend bloom and to limit self-seeding, which can be aggressive; plants weaken after two or three years, so let a few volunteers stand or divide the clump in spring.

It is a useful cut flower, lasting a week or more, and the stems are sturdy. Bees and hoverflies work the flowers, and the strong-smelling foliage keeps deer and rabbits off. It is native to the Balkans and naturalised across much of North America. Hardy in zones 5 to 9.