Pronounced (approximate): tan-ah-SEE-tum vul-GAIR-ee
Yellow button-shaped flower heads lack conspicuous ray petals. Many heads form a broad cluster at the stem tip.
Common Tansy (Tanacetum vulgare): flower cluster in a meadow. Tap the photo to open the gallery.
Family Asteraceae
Life cycle Perennial wildflower
Blooms Summer–early fall
Height 2–5 feet
Habitat Roadsides, disturbed fields, and open waste ground
Other common names
Common Tansy
Bloom timing and height vary by region. Native status refers to North America; see the range notes below.
Explore reported observations. Sightings are not a complete range map.
Roadsides, disturbed fields, and open waste ground. Flowering season: summer–early fall.
Introduced from Eurasia and capable of forming spreading patches. Distinguish it from native Lake Huron Tansy and from Tansy Mustard, a different plant in the mustard family.
Yellow button-shaped flower heads lack conspicuous ray petals.
Many heads form a broad cluster at the stem tip. Leaves are deeply divided into toothed, fernlike segments.
Look in roadsides, disturbed fields, and open waste ground. Include a whole-plant view alongside closeups when studying this species.
10 field photographs. Select a photograph to enlarge it; use Load more photos to see the rest.
Native to Eurasia; introduced across much of North America.
Documented in these U.S. states
AK, AZ, AR, CA, CO, CT, GA, ID, IL, IN, IA, KS, KY, LA, ME, MD, MA, MI, MN, MO, MT, NE, NV, NH, NJ, NM, NY, NC, ND, OH, OK, OR, PA, RI, SD, TN, UT, VT, VA, WA, WV, WI, WY
State list includes reported native and introduced occurrence; it does not mean the plant is native in every listed state.
Observation maps show submitted records, not every place the plant occurs. Follow local access rules when visiting a site.
Practice recognizing Common Tansy in the quiz, or compare it with other plants in the guide.
Field photographs: Where’s Wildlife.