Common Tansy

Invasive:

Tansy Ragwort (Senecio jacobea): Common Tansy is sometimes mistaken for Tansy Ragwort because of its yellow flowers. However, Common Tansy flowers lack ray petals. Both species are invasive.

Common Tansy is native to Europe, Asia and Siberia. It was transported to North America for ornamental and medicinal purposes during the 17th century.

Common Tansy thrives in dry areas with full sun and well-drained, fertile soils; it also grows well in wet, coastal habitats. It is often found in newly-disturbed sites, river banks, riparian habitats and pasture lands.

Common Tansy reproduces by seed as well as vegetatively, from roots and creeping rhizomes. Common Tansy can re-grow from root fragments that have been broken off. One plant can produce up to 50,000 seeds in a season, which can remain viable in the soil for 25 years.

Common Tansy is commonly spread by trade, as it is still sold by plant nurseries and herbal remedy suppliers. Its seeds are also often spread by wind, water, animals and vehicles.

Common Tansy is found in the Sea to Sky region and its distribution is beyond landscape-level control. When Common Tansy is present at high-priority locations and negatively impacting them, their control is considered a high priority.

Otherwise, the goal is to prevent it from spreading to new (uninfested) areas, and to control it where possible to limit its impact on biodiversity.

Learn to identify Common Tansy: use the images presented on this profile page to learn how to identify Common Tansy

What to do if you spot it: You can report any Common Tansy sighting by clicking here.

 

DO:

• Regularly monitor properties for weed infestations.
• Ensure soil and gravel are uncontaminated before transport.
• Check wildflower mixes to ensure that they do not contain Common Tansy.
• Minimize soil disturbances (e.g., use grazing plans that prevent soil exposure from overgrazing) and use seed mixes with dense, early colonization (e.g., alfalfa or barley) to re-vegetate exposed soil and resist invasion.
• Ensure plants (particularly flowering heads or root fragments) are bagged or covered to prevent spread during transport to designated disposal sites (e.g. landfill).

 

DO NOT:

• Unload, park or store equipment or vehicles in infested areas; remove plant material from any equipment, vehicles or clothing used in such areas and wash equipment and vehicles at designated cleaning sites before leaving infested areas.
• Plant Common Tansy in a garden, no matter how well-contained its enclosure may seem.
• Move soil that has been contaminated with Common Tansy.
• Compost Common Tansy!

 

Control

Mechanical

Small infestations can be hand-pulled, but we recommend wearing gloves and protective clothing, as Common Tansy can cause skin irritation.

Mowing is not an effective control method, as the plant will respond with an increase in vegetative growth. However, mowing sites very low to the ground early in the season (before July) can prevent seed production.

Chemical

Metsulfuron methyl and aminopyralid provide effective control for Common Tansy. Picloram, alone or combined with 2,4-D, is also effective, but it is not suitable for wet, coastal soils.

We recommend that any herbicide application is carried out by a person holding a valid BC Pesticide Applicator Certificate. Before selecting and applying herbicides, you must review and follow herbicide labels and application rates; municipal, regional, provincial and federal laws and regulations; species-specific treatment.

Biological

No biocontrol agent is currently available in BC. However, British Columbia is part of a consortium conducting research on Common Tansy biocontrol.