Tansy, A Natural Insect Repellant

Posted by Robert Dailey Sep 11, 2006

Want a great plant that will do well in your desert garden, repels insects, particularly flies and mosquitoes, is easy to care for and requires little water?

Then try tansy (tanacetum vulgare, an ornamental herb native to Europe but widespread across North American now.

Tansy, which smells like a mix between rosemary and camphor, is a beautiful, bright green plant, with feathery leaves, and button-like, yellow flowers.

Some herbalists suggest that a tea made from tansy and sprayed on pets will repel ticks and fleas.

Plant some near entryways, along with rosemary. Plant more near your outside garbage cans. But be careful. It's a very aggressive plant and will invade other beds if not watched.

Tansy has been used as a tonic for stomach illnesses and other illnesses, but I would caution against it strongly. Tansy, when ingested, is toxic, and has been known to be fatal. Also, anyone with an allergy to sunflowers or asters may be subject to allergic skin reactions when handling tansy with bare hands.

Read all about tansy in Tansy, A Great Desert Garden Herb.