When does Tansy-aster bloom?

Tansy-aster generally blooms from June through September, producing daisy-like flowers with purple rays and yellow centers.

How much water does Tansy-aster need?

Tansy-aster is a low-water plant and performs best in dry, well-drained soil once it is established.

How much light does Tansy-aster require?

Tansy-aster needs full sun and flowers most heavily when it gets direct sunlight for most of the day.

What pollinators visit Tansy-aster flowers?

Bees and butterflies commonly visit Tansy-aster for nectar and pollen during its summer bloom period.

What growth habit does Tansy-aster have?

Tansy-aster is a low, spreading forb rather than a shrub or tree, and it fits well into open, sunny beds or naturalized dry gardens.

Is Tansy-aster toxic to livestock?

The USDA PLANTS Database does not flag Tansy-aster as toxic to livestock.

Is Tansy-aster HOA-friendly?

Tansy-aster takes more care to look intentional in a front yard. Consider it for backyard or mid-zone beds rather than the street edge.

Tansy-aster

Name: Pollinator Patch
Author: Pollinator Patch

Machaeranthera tanacetifolia

Last reviewed: August 2026

Machaeranthera tanacetifolia, or Tansy-aster, is a low-water forb that blooms from June through September in full sun. It grows well in dry, open plains and high desert country across the western and central United States.

Toxicity unknown

Tansy-aster (Machaeranthera tanacetifolia) is not listed by the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center (opens in new tab) or the other sources we check, so we have no verdict for it either way. Absence from those lists is not a clearance. If your pet shows symptoms after eating any plant, call the ASPCA at (888) 426-4435.

The USDA PLANTS Database (opens in new tab) does not flag Tansy-aster as toxic to livestock.

Light

full sun

Water

low

Size

12"–24" H × 12"–18" W

Bloom

Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep

Native to

AZ, CA, CO, KS and 9 more states

Pollinators

bees, butterflies

Before you buy

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Cities and water utilities offer rebates for replacing lawn with native and water-wise plants. We track 452 programs across 44 states, each with a link to the provider and the date we last checked it.

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Browse plants for this ecoregion

Central Basin and Range Mojave Basin and Range Northwestern Forested Mountains North American Deserts Southern Rockies Arizona/New Mexico Mountains Chihuahuan Deserts High Plains Southwestern Tablelands Central Great Plains Edwards Plateau Northwestern Great Plains Madrean Archipelago Sonoran Basin and Range

Tansy-aster is a compact annual wildflower that produces masses of small, daisy-like purple flowers with yellow centers from June through September. This drought-tolerant native grows in a neat, bushy form and readily self-seeds to create natural colonies in sunny, dry locations.

Growing Tansy-aster

Grow Tansy-aster in full sun and low water. Mature plants reach 12 to 24 inches tall and spread 12 to 18 inches wide. Expect low maintenance to keep it looking intentional in a front yard.

In an HOA neighborhood

Tansy-aster takes more care to keep looking intentional in a front yard. Maintenance level: low. Consider it for backyard or mid-zone beds rather than the street edge.

Works well in: backyard only.

Annual nature means gaps in coverage
Self-seeding can appear uncontrolled
May look weedy to traditional landscaping preferences

Wildlife value

The abundant blooms attract native bees, butterflies, and other beneficial insects throughout the growing season. Seeds provide food for finches and other small birds in fall.

Common questions

When does Tansy-aster bloom?: Tansy-aster generally blooms from June through September, producing daisy-like flowers with purple rays and yellow centers.
How much water does Tansy-aster need?: Tansy-aster is a low-water plant and performs best in dry, well-drained soil once it is established.
How much light does Tansy-aster require?: Tansy-aster needs full sun and flowers most heavily when it gets direct sunlight for most of the day.
What pollinators visit Tansy-aster flowers?: Bees and butterflies commonly visit Tansy-aster for nectar and pollen during its summer bloom period.
What growth habit does Tansy-aster have?: Tansy-aster is a low, spreading forb rather than a shrub or tree, and it fits well into open, sunny beds or naturalized dry gardens.
Is Tansy-aster toxic to livestock?: The USDA PLANTS Database does not flag Tansy-aster as toxic to livestock.
Is Tansy-aster HOA-friendly?: Tansy-aster takes more care to look intentional in a front yard. Consider it for backyard or mid-zone beds rather than the street edge.

These answers were drafted with an AI model from this plant's data. Verify care details with a local expert.

Native range data from vouchered herbarium specimen records and regional native plant society lists. Pollinator and host plant associations compiled from GBIF, iNaturalist, and published ecological literature.

If something looks wrong

Common plant problems, and what to check first

These come up on almost any plant. Each guide lists the likely causes in the order they are worth ruling out, with one thing to check before you act on any of them, and links to the source it came from.

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