Tanacetum vulgare ‘Isla Gold’

Golden Tansy Asteraceae

A wonderfully bright selection of the common tansy, ‘Isla Gold’ takes an otherwise rather formidable native perennial and gives it a considerably more garden-worthy personality. From spring onwards it produces a dense clump of finely divided, fern-like foliage in a particularly vivid golden-yellow to chartreuse, the aromatic leaves catching the light beautifully in a sunny border. In summer, upright stems carry the familiar flat-topped clusters of small, button-like golden-yellow flowerheads, without the white ray florets associated with feverfew. 

Unlike the wild form, which can be an enthusiastic spreader, ‘Isla Gold’ is a somewhat more restrained cultivar, although it remains a rhizomatous perennial and should not be planted where absolute containment is required. The brilliant foliage is its principal attraction and remains effective from spring well into autumn. A mid-season cutback can rejuvenate plants in rich soil and produce a fresh flush of foliage. 

There is an interesting piece of modern horticultural history behind it. ‘Isla Gold’ originated at the now-defunct Isla Nursery in Cambridgeshire, and was shared with American plantsman Viki Ferreniea in 1999. Plant Delights Nursery subsequently introduced it commercially to the American market in 2001, helping to establish the cultivar internationally. 

The species itself, Tanacetum vulgare, is a long-established European perennial, traditionally valued for its aromatic foliage and intensely yellow flowers. The cultivar epithet ‘Isla Gold’ neatly describes both its nursery origin and its outstanding golden foliage. It is now an accepted cultivar name with the RHS. 

A particularly useful plant for the sunny border, gravel garden, herb garden or wildlife planting, where the golden foliage makes an excellent foil for blue, purple and dark-flowered companions. It is remarkably tolerant of soil type, provided drainage is reasonable, and is exceptionally hardy. The flowers are attractive to pollinating insects, while the aromatic foliage adds another dimension to the plant.

Cultivation: Grow in full sun in any reasonably fertile, well-drained soil. It tolerates chalk, clay, loam and sand and becomes drought tolerant once established. Avoid excessively rich, permanently moist conditions if you wish to restrain its spread. Cut back after flowering or in mid-season if the foliage becomes untidy. Propagate by division or basal cuttings. 

Height: 60–75 cm
Spread: 40–60 cm
Flowering period: July–September
Position: Full sun
Soil: Well-drained, fertile; tolerant of chalk, clay, loam and sand
Hardiness: H7
Family: Asteraceae
Common name: Golden tansy; gold-leaf tansy
Origin: Isla Nursery, Cambridgeshire
Introduction: Shared by Viki Ferreniea in 1999; introduced commercially in the USA by Plant Delights Nursery in 2001