Painted Daisy
Tanacetum coccineum
Painted daisy is a hardy perennial bearing cheerful daisy flowers in pink, red, and white with golden centers over fern-like foliage. Its flowers are the natural source of the insecticide pyrethrum.
- Light
- Full sun
- Water
- Moderate; let soil dry slightly
- Difficulty
- Moderate
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Overview
Painted daisy is a clump-forming perennial grown for its bright, classic daisy flowers and finely cut, aromatic foliage. Blooming in late spring and early summer, it brings vivid pinks, reds, and whites to borders.
Native to southwestern Asia, particularly the Caucasus and Iran, it is also known as the pyrethrum daisy because its dried flower heads yield pyrethrin, a widely used natural insecticide.
It makes an excellent, long-lasting cut flower and is valued in cottage gardens for its tidy clumps of ferny leaves and long-stemmed blooms.
(Note: 'painted daisy' is sometimes also used for the annual Chrysanthemum carinatum; here it refers to the perennial pyrethrum.)
How to identify it
- Height: Clumps 1-2 ft tall with slender, upright flower stems.
- Flowers: Single, daisy-like blooms 2-3 in across in pink, rose, red, or white with a yellow central disk.
- Leaves: Finely divided, fern-like, aromatic green foliage.
- Bloom: Late spring into early summer, sometimes reblooming if deadheaded.
- Habit: Neat, mounding perennial.
Care & growing
Light: Full sun for sturdy stems and best flowering.
Water: Moderate; let the soil dry slightly between waterings and avoid waterlogging.
Soil: Well-drained, fertile soil; good drainage is essential.
Temperature: A cold-hardy perennial in temperate zones.
Feeding: Light feeding in spring.
Propagation: By division in spring or fall, or from seed. Deadhead spent flowers to tidy plants and encourage rebloom; staking helps support tall stems.
Habitat & origin
Native to southwestern Asia, especially the Caucasus Mountains and Iran, where it grows in mountain meadows and rocky slopes.
Grown as a hardy perennial in temperate gardens worldwide and cultivated commercially, particularly in East Africa, for the production of natural pyrethrum insecticide.
Uses & benefits
Ornamental: A bright, dependable border perennial and an outstanding long-lasting cut flower.
Insecticidal: The dried flower heads are the source of pyrethrin/pyrethrum, a natural insecticide used in many organic pest-control products.
Pollinators: The open daisy flowers attract bees and butterflies.
Frequently asked questions
Is painted daisy the source of pyrethrum?
Yes. The dried flower heads of Tanacetum coccineum yield pyrethrin, a natural insecticide widely used in organic pest control.
Is it a perennial?
Yes, it is a cold-hardy perennial that returns each year and can be divided to make more plants.
Does it repel insects in the garden?
The flowers contain natural insecticidal compounds, but simply growing the plant offers little protection; the effect comes from processed, dried flowers.
How do I get more blooms?
Grow it in full sun with good drainage and deadhead spent flowers, which keeps plants tidy and can encourage a second flush.
Painted Daisy guides
In-depth guides for identifying, growing, and caring for Painted Daisy.
