Make me smile 'sherry'. I see it is biennial but it seems to be a spreader. Is it easy to keep it in check?

I grew feverfew in the garden here - deliberately at first, but now it's a bit of a PITA:-) It's messy-looking after the flowers fade. I think the scented foliage helps deter some pests. So for years now I've been ripping it out but leaving the ripped-out plant on the ground in the bed to let it 'compost in place' and act as a mulch and perhaps a pest deterrent (assuming I'm not imagining that effect!)

It is a pretty plant. When I started gardening ten years ago, a friend gave me one plant. I haven't had the plant for several years but I still find several seedlings every spring. I call it "the gift that keeps on giving". Here it is in 2011, the last year I grew it from a seedling.

Yes it is a spreader, but it has lived in the same bed for 10- 15 years. It does reseed around, is easy to pull out or transplant. The plants in my garden seem to last 3 years but there is always a new one to transplant where I want it. When they get ratty looking I trim them or pull them out, look in my bed for a newer small one to replace it. No transplant shock here. I'm guessing it could be considered a pest in some climates. I look forward to the bright spots in the garden!

Sherry

I quite like them, they pop up in the oddest places here. If not in the way I just leave them or pull when finished blooming, that spot of white that sets everything else off. I've had them with different flowers some double some single, I actually saw one on another forum I'd love to have had seed from, the flower was really pretty.

Annette

I've never seen evidence of feverfew being a "spreader". It does reseed itself moderately, which is a bonus if you need plants to fill in bare spots.

Another photo, different sun exposure.

This seems to be one of those plants that how much of a PITA it is depends on one's soil, climate, and gardening habits. Here it's a problem, one of about a dozen plants that I pull whenever I see it. Right up there with great blue lobelia, lamb's ears, and forget-me-nots, all plants that seed prolifically, have a long life in the soil seed bank, and like to hide under the foliage of other plants until they have set seed. Perhaps if my garden were more manicured and meticulously deadheaded, it wouldn't be an issue, but it's been more than 15 years since I started pulling them all, and I still find new ones every year.

Very pretty Sherry!

Haha Marie, now that will be stuck in my brain too!

I have lemon balm which is a pesky reseeder (and I even hack it back as soon as I see flower buds!) but it is worth the trouble to me because it is so undemanding, fragrant and delicious.

Actually, Marie Tulin, as one who is fluent in French, and having lived there for nearly 10 years, I'm afraid to inform you your mother is mistaken.

"Pis-en-lit" refers to the dandelion (itself a derivative of a French name, 'dents de lion', meaning 'Lion's teeth; in that the petals resemble the incisors of a lion, and the leaves resemble the whole dentition..). Because dandelions actually are diuretic, and make a very good addition to the diet, either as salad vegetables or as a tisane). Feverfew is horrendously bitter, but makes a very good remedy for migraines. As long as you take a good hot cup of feverfew tea (with honey!) at the onset of a migraine, it has been known to halt the condition in its tracks. Feverfew is a member of the chrysanthemum family.

Lettuce, as a point of interest, is part of the dandelion family.

You beat me to it Tara. When I was at school we told each other not to pick dandelions because it would make you wet the bed. So that old folk knowledge lingered on amongst kids this side of the Channel too.

I knew feverfew is used medicinally, but haven't heard the info about dandelion until now. That's one bit of folklore that never made it this far. Thanks for informing!

sherry

It's a wonderful thing that we now have so much more information literally at our fingertips, thanks to the internet. There's an awful lot of common sense in 'folklore' because we have had many open-minded scientists, botanists and plain enthusiasts doing some good groundwork and solid research, which has served to verify and justify use of so many remedies hitherto considered 'folklore'.

I eat dandelions regularly as a single salad vegetable; the variety (if you like) that I prefer, is the type with broad long 'tear-shaped' leaves that resemble those of a cos lettuce, rather than those which are heavily and prominently tooth-shaped. (although washing well, then sautéed in a little olive oil, and then sprinkled with lemon juice, the bitterness is far less evident...)

I pick the leaves as close to the base as possible, wash, then holding the central rib firmly between finger and thumb, I strip the leaf from the rib, with the other hand....

Wash well, drain well (salad spinner is a must!) then lay all the leaves together, and slice across very thinly.

Toss in a little French dressing, and eat with a cutlet coated in breadcrumbs (like wiener schnitzel and warm boiled new potatoes, in butter and chopped parsley. LUSH!!

So Tara, do you eat the rib or the leaf blade?

No, sorry...Should have clarified! *lol!* The leaf blade... the rib can be a little tough...

I dug mine out a few days ago when I was in a garden purging mode - at the time I didn't what it was and I wanted the space. Now I'm wondering if I should find another home for it.

Oh, it will return on its own. I've pulled a few seedlings this year too.

I let a few of mine seed in the fall for new plants each year. While it may be a biennial few second year plants survive and first year plants bloom well. Fortunately, volunteers are easy to pull.

regarding (scurrilous) common names of plants ...I had cause to look up Jersey Tea (Woodstea's post)...and continued down the list, as you do, when to my delight, I chanced upon 'nits and lice'. So astonished I forget to check the botanical name...so yep, I hope the folk language of plant naming never disappears...