Feverfew Repels Bees and Other Insects?

Hi all,

I'm interested in planting feverfew, but I am a bit concerned having read that it repels insects.

If I plant it in a patch a metre or two from plants requiring pollination, would that nullify this issue?

Any tips much appreciated

Hi Russell

Feverfew grows all over the place here.
There's patches of it near my borage, sage, rosemary and lavendar but the bees are all over them in spring so it doesn't seem like they notice it much.
Maybe because the herbs are much taller so the bees don't actually have to get close to the feverfew?

Hi Anna,

Thanks for the info. Perhaps I could start with just a couple of feverfew plants in my herb patch and observe how things go.

Maybe if it's near well-established tall herbs it would be ok.
The feverfew here is growing wild so that might be a factor as well. Like the bees have gotten used to it over the years?
I get the impression the hordes of bees around here wouldn't let anything stand in the way of getting to all those tasty blue/purple flowers :)

Feverfew, tanacetum parthenium, has pretty flowers that bees don't like because the blossoms have a strong, citrus scent.

Plant feverfew in a medicinal garden with other medicinal herbs. The feverfew will love being planted with mint and thyme. Since rosemary has a strong smell it might make a good companion also.




Here is a list of crops that require pollination by bees so don't plant feverfew close to these:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_crop_plants_pollinated_by_bees


Feverfew makes a nice flower arrangement: