Tanacetum cinerariifolium
Pyrethrum
Originally from the Balkans and sometimes still known as Dalmatian
pellitory, pyrethrum has been used as a pesticide since at least
1697. African Americans burned this flower to repel and kill mosquitoes
indoors (it still goes into old-fashioned mosquito coils), and British
country folk mixed the plant with bedding for animals to help repel
ticks and other vermin, and hung it from the rafters to help repel
bugs in the house. Sounds like it would have made a fine strewing
herb as well. The advantages of this insecticide are that you grow
it yourself, so you are not dependent on the pesticide industry,
and it biodegrades, especially in the presence of light. It's one
of the few pesticides that is allowed around food. There is a big
difference between pyrethrins, which come from plants, and
pyrethroids, which are manufactured in a chemical plant. Pyrethrins
are toxic to fish but only mildly toxic to birds and mammals. Some
information says that you can grow this to repel insects in your
garden. That is no more true of this plant than of other members
of this family that are aromatic, like tansy.
It is the drying and powdering that turns the flowers into good
pesticidal material. Most of the toxic chemicals in this flower
are located in parts that don't come into contact with pollinating
insects, so you don't have to worry about this plant hurting bees
in your garden, either.
Because of its mundane uses, consider this Sun
herb for magical protection and banishing--nice for garden borders
for that reason. Also known as Dalmatian insect flower, Dalamtian
pyrethrum, Pyrethrum cinerariifolium, Chrysanthemum cinerariifolium.
How to Grow Pyrethrum
Barely cover to germinate in 14-28 days at room temperature. Transplant out
to full sun. This plant likes rocky, dry soil and not a lot of humidity.
It gets 14-18"/35-45cm tall and 24"/60cm wide. Pyrethrum
is a perennial hardy to -35F/-35C (zone 3), but it does not like
the humid South. Pick the flower heads when open; dry them and store
in a jar to be powdered or crumbled when necessary. They stay good
for years. The yellow centers have more pesticide than the white
rays. Even though this is a low-harm pesticide, don't be careless
with it. General
growing info
Tanacetum cinerariifolium
Pyrethrum
100 seeds $3.50
Uses in Witchcraft & Magic:
Protection
Banishing
Sun Herb
© 2010 Harold A. Roth; No reproduction without permission