Tanacetum balsamita

RHS Plant Profile

costmary

Other common names

alecost, beaver tongue, Bible leaf, bitter buttons, camphor plant, cologne plant, cost, costermary, lady's balsam, lady's flower, lady's herb, mace, mint geranium, Patagonian mint, tongue plant, sweet Mary

Synonyms

Balsamita suaveolens
Chrysanthemum grande
Chrysanthemum balsamita
Chrysanthemum balsamita var. tanacetoides
Balsamita major
Balsamita vulgaris

Herbaceous Perennial

Buy this from Plant Nurseries
12 Suppliers

A spreading, woody-based perennial with balsam-scented, oblong, grey-green leaves and loose corymbs of small, daisy-like flowers with yellow disk florets and short white rays, in late summer and early autumn

Position

Full sun, Partial shade

Soil Types

Loam, Sand

Max Height

0.5-1 metres

Max Spread

0.1-0.5 metres

Size

Time to Maturity: 2–5 years
Max Spread: 0.1-0.5 metres
Max Height: 0.5-1 metres

Growing Conditions

Loam Sand

Moisture: Well–drained
pH: Acid or Alkaline or Neutral

Position

Full sun Partial shade

Aspect: South–facing or West–facing or East–facing
Exposure: Exposed or Sheltered
Hardiness

Hardiness Ratings

All ratings refer to the UK growing conditions unless otherwise stated. Minimum temperature ranges (in degrees C) are shown in brackets

H1A: under glass all year (>15C)
H1B: can be grown outside in the summer (10 - 15)
H1C: can be grown outside in the summer (5 - 10)
H2: tolerant of low temperatures, but not surviving being frozen (1 to 5)
H3: hardy in coastal and relatively mild parts of the UK (-5 to 1)
H4: hardy through most of the UK (-10 to -5)
H5: hardy in most places throughout the UK even in severe winters (-15 to -10)
H6: hardy in all of UK and northern Europe (-20 to -15)
H7: hardy in the severest European continental climates (< -20): H7

Colour & Scent

Fragrance Foliage

Season	Stem	Flower	Foliage	Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Botanical Details

Family: Asteraceae
Native to GB/Ireland: No
Foliage: Deciduous
Habit: Bushy
Potentially harmful: Contact may irritate the skin. Wear gloves and other protective equipment when handling
Genus: Tanacetum can be annuals, evergreen or herbaceous perennials or sub-shrubs, with simple or pinnately divided leaves and solitary or clustered, terminal, daisy-like or button-like flower-heads
Name Status: Correct
Plant Range: S Europe, SW Asia

How to Grow

Cultivation

Grow in any light, well-drained soil in full sun or partial shade for leafier growth

Propagation

Propagate by seed or semi-hardwood cuttings in summer

Suggested planting locations and garden types

City and courtyard gardens
Cottage and informal garden
Wildlife gardens
Mediterranean climate plants
Flower borders and beds

Pruning

Cut back after flowering

Pests

May be susceptible to aphids, leaf and bud eelworms and leaf-mining flies

Diseases

Generally disease-free