Tanacetum balsamita Alecost PFAF Plant Database

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Tanacetum balsamita - L.

Common Name

Alecost

Family

Asteraceae or Compositae

Synonyms

Balsamita major. (L.)Desf. Chrysanthemum balsamita.

Known Hazards

None known

Habitats

An introduced weed of roadsides in eastern N. America[43].

Range

Europe to W. Asia.

Edibility Rating

Medicinal Rating

Care

Summary

Physical Characteristics

Tanacetum balsamita is a PERENNIAL growing to 0.9 m (3ft) by 1 m (3ft 3in).
It is hardy to zone 6. It is in flower from Sep to October. The flowers are hermaphrodite (have both male and female organs) and are pollinated by Insects.

Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils and prefers well-drained soil. Suitable pH: acid, neutral and basic (alkaline) soils. It can grow in semi-shade (light woodland) or no shade. It prefers dry or moist soil.

Habitats
Cultivated Beds;

Edible Uses

Edible Parts: Leaves.
Edible Uses: Condiment; Tea.

Leaves - raw or used as a flavouring in soups, beer etc[2, 4, 14, 27, 52, 177, 183]. They can be chopped and added sparingly to salads[183]. They have a very pleasant aroma, but can be overpowering in the food if you are not careful[K]. The leaves were at one time widely used in brewing beer, before being superseded by hops (Humulus lupulus)[238]. The whole leaves can be laid in cake trays to flavour the cake whilst it is baking[183]. The flower petals are used for conserves[183]. A delicious tea is made from the dried leaves[14, 21, 183].

Medicinal Uses

Plants For A Future can not take any responsibility for any adverse effects from the use of plants. Always seek advice from a professional before using a plant medicinally.

Antiseptic; Astringent; Digestive; Laxative.

Alecost is seldom used in herbal medicine, though it does have a beneficial effect upon the digestive system[268]. The leaves are antiseptic, astringent, digestive and laxative[4, 14, 238]. They have been used internally as an aperient in the treatment of dysentery, and as a remedy for liver and gall bladder complaints[238]. Externally, they have been used as a salve to treat burns and insect stings[238, 268]. They are considered to be virtually obsolete in modern herbalism[4, 238].

Other Uses
Insecticide; Pot-pourri; Strewing. The plant was traditionally used for its insecticidal properties[200]. The dried leaves retain their fragrance well and so are used in pot-pourri[4, 238], they are also used as a strewing herb[200].

Cultivation details

An easily grown plant, it prefers a sunny warm position[52] in a dry soil[14, 37] but thrives under most conditions[4]. Tolerates a pH in the range 5.0 to 7.6. The leaves emit a soft balsamic odour[4]. The sub-species T. balsamita tomentosum is called the camphor plant because of its camphor-scented foliage[238]. Plants produces lot of leaves but no flowers when grown in the shade[4], though this is an advantage when the plant is being grown for its useful leaves[200]. Alecost used to be commonly grown in the herb garden but it has fallen out of favour in recent times[4].

Propagation

The seed is seldom produced in Britain[4]. If seed is obtained it would probably be best sown in a cold frame in early spring. When they are large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and grow them on in the greenhouse for their first winter. Plant them out into their permanent positions in late spring or early summer, after the last expected frosts. Division in spring or autumn[4]. Very easy, it can be done successfully at almost any time of the year. Larger divisions can be planted out direct into their permanent positions. We have found that it is best to pot up smaller divisions and grow them on in light shade in a greenhouse or cold frame until they are growing away well. Plant them out in the summer or the following spring. Basal cuttings in late spring[K]. Harvest the shoots with plenty of underground stem when they are about 8 - 10cm above the ground. Pot them up into individual pots and keep them in light shade in a cold frame or greenhouse until they are rooting well. Plant them out in the summer.

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Expert comment

Author
L.

Botanical References
200

Links / References

[K] Ken Fern Notes from observations, tasting etc at Plants For A Future and on field trips.

[2]Hedrick. U. P. Sturtevant's Edible Plants of the World.

Lots of entries, quite a lot of information in most entries and references.

[4]Grieve. A Modern Herbal.

Not so modern (1930's?) but lots of information, mainly temperate plants.

[14]Holtom. J. and Hylton. W. Complete Guide to Herbs.

A good herbal.

[21]Lust. J. The Herb Book.

Lots of information tightly crammed into a fairly small book.

[27]Vilmorin. A. The Vegetable Garden.

A reprint of a nineteenth century classic, giving details of vegetable varieties. Not really that informative though.

[37]Thompson. B. The Gardener's Assistant.

Excellent general but extensive guide to gardening practices in the 19th century. A very good section on fruits and vegetables with many little known species.

[43]Fernald. M. L. Gray's Manual of Botany.

A bit dated but good and concise flora of the eastern part of N. America.

[52]Larkcom. J. Salads all the Year Round.

A good and comprehensive guide to temperate salad plants, with full organic details of cultivation.

[177]Kunkel. G. Plants for Human Consumption.

An excellent book for the dedicated. A comprehensive listing of latin names with a brief list of edible parts.

[183]Facciola. S. Cornucopia - A Source Book of Edible Plants.

Excellent. Contains a very wide range of conventional and unconventional food plants (including tropical) and where they can be obtained (mainly N. American nurseries but also research institutes and a lot of other nurseries from around the world.

[200]Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992.

Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.

[238]Bown. D. Encyclopaedia of Herbs and their Uses.

A very well presented and informative book on herbs from around the globe. Plenty in it for both the casual reader and the serious student. Just one main quibble is the silly way of having two separate entries for each plant.

[268]Stuart. M. (Editor) The Encyclopedia of Herbs and Herbalism

Excellent herbal with good concise information on over 400 herbs.

Readers comment

Elizabeth H.
rossano carta	Wed Nov 16 2005

meine tochter hat probleme mit nieren verliert eiweiss über nieren kannbalsamita tanacetum helfen

Elizabeth H.
Rich webweaver@pfaf	Wed Nov 16 2005

Google translated above as: My daughter has problems with kidneys loses protein over kidneys kannbalsamita tanacetum helped.

Elizabeth H.
christine marechal	Mon Apr 7 2008

the words "kannbalsamita helped" should be "kann balsamita helped" = "can balsamita help" (and not as suggested "---balsamita helped").

Elizabeth H.
frann leach	Fri Sep 18 2009

An analysis by gas chromatography published on the link given states that levels of "beta-thujone, a toxic ketone" were present at levels between 10 and 12.5% in the samples used. In light of this a note on possible toxicity should probably be added to your description.

ISHS Acta Horticulturae levels of beta-thujone, a toxic ketone are present at levels between 10 and 12.5%

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