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Bransford, W.D. and Dolphia

Tanacetum camphoratum

Tanacetum camphoratum Less.

Camphor Tansy

Asteraceae (Aster Family)

Synonym(s): Tanacetum douglasii

USDA Symbol: TACA2

USDA Native Status: L48 (N)

A leafy, lightly hairy plant, growing in patches, with feathery leaves, aromatic when crushed, and stems topped by open clusters of small, button-like, yellow flower heads.

Recent interpretation suggests there are only trivial differences between this more widespread race (formerly classified as T. douglasii) and the race known as Camphor Dune Tansy, which grows near San Francisco, is densely hairy, and lacks any suggestion of rays around the flower head.

From the Image Gallery

10 photo(s) available in the Image Gallery

Plant Characteristics

Duration: Perennial
Habit: Herb
Size Notes: Up to about 32 inches tall.
Fruit: Fruit is a cypsela (pl. cypselae). Though technically incorrect, the fruit is often referred to as an achene.

Bloom Information

Bloom Color: Yellow
Bloom Time: May , Jun , Jul , Aug , Sep

Distribution

USA: CA , OR , WA
Native Distribution: British Columbia south to northern California.
Native Habitat: Coastal sand dunes.

Find Seed or Plants

Find seed sources for this species at the Native Seed Network.

View propagation protocol from Native Plants Network.

From the National Organizations Directory

According to the species list provided by Affiliate Organizations, this plant is on display at the following locations:

Santa Barbara Botanic Garden - Santa Barbara, CA
Native Seed Network - Corvallis, OR

Web Reference

Webref 38 - Flora of North America (2019) Missouri Botanical Garden, St. Louis, MO & Harvard University Herbaria, Cambridge, MA.
Webref 23 - Southwest Environmental Information Network (2009) SEINet - Arizona Chapter

Additional resources

USDA: Find Tanacetum camphoratum in USDA Plants
FNA: Find Tanacetum camphoratum in the Flora of North America (if available)
Google: Search Google for Tanacetum camphoratum

Metadata

Record Modified: 2023-01-27
Research By: TWC Staff

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