Tanacetum vulgare
Common tansy
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Family: Asteraceae · Type: Herb · Not Native
Conservation status: Cal-IPC Yes
Tanacetum vulgare (Common tansy) is a non-native California herb in the Asteraceae family.
Common tansy is a naturalized perennial herb found in northern coastal California, northern Coast Ranges, high Cascade Range, northern Sierra Nevada, southern Coast Ranges, San Bernardino Mountains, and Modoc Plateau in disturbed areas at elevations below 2,000 meters. Flowering from June to August, this plant produces bright yellow flowers in compact flat-topped clusters with 20 to 200 small flower heads. Growing 40 to 150 centimeters tall with erect, smooth or sparsely hairy stems emerging from underground rhizomes, it develops a distinctive branching structure. Its leaves are widely oblong or oval, deeply pinnately divided with 4 to 13 pairs of lance-linear lobes, each with serrated edges and ranging 4 to 20 centimeters long. The plant forms dense clusters with numerous small yellow disk flowers, creating a distinctive appearance in disturbed habitats.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 2 sympatric species; height, flower arrangement, and habitat are key differentiators
Habitat and range
Habitat: Uncommon. Escape from cultivation in disturbed areas
Elevation: < 2000 m
Outside California: to Alaska, northern Canada, eastern United States, native to Europe
Bloom period
Tanacetum vulgare blooms Jun-Aug.
Conservation status
Cal-IPC Yes
How to tell it apart
vs Achillea: Achillea has obvious white ray flowers; Tanacetum buttons lack rays entirely; vs Anthemis: Anthemis has a cone-shaped receptacle; Tanacetum receptacle is flat or slightly convex; vs Chamaemelum: Chamaemelum receptacle is distinctly hollow; Tanacetum solid - gently squeeze flower center; vs Chrysanthemum: Chrysanthemum has spreading ray flowers; Tanacetum typically rayless yellow buttons; vs Erigeron: Erigeron has thin thread-like rays; Tanacetum buttons completely lack rays
Frequently asked questions
Is Tanacetum vulgare native to California?
No. Tanacetum vulgare is not native to California (recorded as not native).
When does Tanacetum vulgare bloom?
Tanacetum vulgare blooms Jun-Aug.
What plant family does Tanacetum vulgare belong to?
Tanacetum vulgare is in the Asteraceae family, genus Tanacetum.
Is Tanacetum vulgare invasive in California?
Tanacetum vulgare is listed by Cal-IPC with an invasiveness rating of Yes.
What habitat does Tanacetum vulgare grow in?
Tanacetum vulgare grows in Uncommon. Escape from cultivation in disturbed areas.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · Index of California Plant Names · CalPhotos
Last updated 2026-10-07
Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Cal-IPC, and more.