Feverfew in Zone 9A — Florida

Feverfew is a fantastic addition to any Florida garden. Its cheerful, daisy-like flowers bring a touch of the cottage garden to our subtropical landscape, and it’s surprisingly easy to grow. Plus, it attracts beneficial insects while potentially providing relief from headaches – a win-win in our book!

Our Florida gardening calendar is different, with summer being the slow season. But don't worry! Feverfew thrives when planted in fall for a winter harvest, avoiding the worst of the summer heat and humidity. Our 327-day growing season gives you plenty of time to enjoy this hardy herb.

Starting Feverfew indoors is certainly an option, especially if you want a head start. Begin sowing seeds indoors from late November through mid December, about eight weeks before you plan to transplant outdoors. This allows you to get a jump on the season while avoiding any late frosts we might get.

Use seed trays filled with a good seed-starting mix, and keep them consistently moist by bottom watering. Provide warmth and plenty of light – a grow light works wonders. Remember, though our spring comes early, it's reversed, so starting indoors extends your growing season effectively.

Transplant your Feverfew seedlings outdoors from late January through late February. This timing allows them to establish before our summer heat really kicks in. Before transplanting, harden off your seedlings by gradually exposing them to outdoor conditions for about a week.

Choose a sunny to partly shaded spot and space them 12-15 inches apart. Keep an eye on the weather forecast; we can still get some unexpected cold snaps this time of year. Be ready to cover them if temperatures dip too low.

Direct sowing Feverfew is an easy and reliable method in Florida. You can sow seeds directly into the garden from early February through early October. The soil needs to be workable, so make sure it's not waterlogged after a heavy rain.

Prepare the soil by loosening it and removing any weeds. Scatter the seeds lightly on the surface and gently press them into the soil. Keep the soil consistently moist until the seedlings emerge. Thin the seedlings to 12-15 inches apart once they are a few inches tall.

Feverfew is relatively drought-tolerant once established, making it a good fit for Florida gardens. However, consistent watering is crucial during the initial establishment phase. After that, less is more.

During our drier fall and spring months, check the soil moisture regularly. Stick your finger about 2 inches deep; if it feels dry, it's time to water. Aim for about 1 inch of water per week, either from rainfall or irrigation. In our wet summers, you may not need to water at all, unless we have an unusual dry spell.

Water at the base of the plant rather than overhead to minimize fungal diseases, which thrive in our humid climate. Signs of underwatering include wilting leaves, while yellowing leaves can indicate overwatering. A layer of mulch around the base of the plant helps retain moisture and suppress weeds, but don’t pile it against the stem.

Pruning Feverfew is essential for maintaining its appearance and encouraging continuous blooming. The key is to deadhead regularly.

Deadheading means removing spent flowers as soon as they start to fade. This prevents the plant from putting energy into seed production and encourages it to produce more blooms. Simply snip off the flower heads just below the flower. After the main flowering period, usually as our first frost approaches in late December, you can cut the plant back to tidy it up. Be aware that Feverfew self-seeds aggressively, so deadheading helps control its spread.

You can expect your first Feverfew harvest around mid April through early January, about 70 days after planting. Look for the small, daisy-like flowers to be fully open. The flowers are the part typically used for herbal remedies.

To harvest, simply snip off the flower heads with a pair of scissors or pruning shears. Try not to damage the surrounding foliage. Regular harvesting encourages the plant to produce more flowers throughout the season.

As our first frost approaches in late December, you can still harvest any remaining flowers, though the plant's growth will slow down considerably. Even if the plant dies back in a particularly cold winter, it will likely return from seed in the spring!

Feverfew is relatively easy to grow, but here are a few potential problems you might encounter in Florida:

Self-seeds prolifically

• What it looks like: Small Feverfew plants popping up everywhere in your garden, even in areas where you didn't plant them.
• What causes it: Feverfew flowers produce a large number of seeds, which are easily spread by wind and animals.
• How to fix/prevent it: Deadhead flowers regularly to prevent seed production. If you want to save seeds, only allow a few flowers to go to seed. Remove unwanted seedlings as soon as you see them.

Aphids

• What it looks like: Clusters of tiny soft-bodied insects (green, black, or white) on stems and leaf undersides. Sticky honeydew residue. Curled or distorted new growth.
• What causes it: Rapid-reproducing sap-sucking insects. Populations explode in warm weather. Ant colonies may farm them for honeydew.
• How to fix/prevent it: Strong water spray knocks them off. Encourage ladybugs and lacewings (natural predators). Insecticidal soap for heavy infestations. Neem oil works systemically. Avoid excess nitrogen fertilizer (it attracts them).

Leaf Miners

• What it looks like: Discolored trails or blotches on the leaves. You might see the small larvae inside the tunnels if you hold the leaf up to the light.
• What causes it: Leaf miner larvae tunnel between the upper and lower surfaces of leaves, feeding on the leaf tissue.
• How to fix/prevent it: Remove and destroy infested leaves. Use row covers to prevent adult leaf miners from laying eggs on the plants. Neem oil can help control leaf miner populations.

Florida Specific Challenges: Our hot, humid summers can create ideal conditions for fungal diseases, so ensure good air circulation around your Feverfew plants and avoid overhead watering. The wet-summer rainfall can also lead to waterlogged soil, so well-draining soil is essential.

Feverfew makes a great companion plant for several reasons.

Good companions include tomatoes, as it repels some common tomato pests. Roses also benefit, as Feverfew can help deter aphids. Plant it near herbs like rosemary and sage, as it attracts beneficial insects that can help pollinate and protect these plants.

Avoid planting Feverfew near plants that are susceptible to aphids, as it can sometimes attract them. Otherwise, it's a pretty easy plant to get along with in the Florida garden!