Chrysanthemum coccineum Robinson's Giants Mix

The Tanacetum or Chrysanthemum coccineum Robinson's Giants, also known as pyrethrum or pink chrysanthemum, is a perennial with summer flowering, wonderful in bouquets. Its daisy-shaped flowers in red, pink or white contain a natural insecticide, pyrethrin, which gives them a camphor scent. The finely cut foliage resembles that of ferns or chervil, and is remarkably beautiful and healthy. Highly visited by butterflies, these plants will bring a lot of cheerfulness and rhythm to summer flower beds. They tolerate ordinary soil, require a sunny exposure, and tolerate drought better than humidity.

The pink pyrethrum Robinson's Giant is a herbaceous perennial plant from the aster family, originating from a wild plant native to the Caucasus called Tanacetum coccineum. It forms bushy and light clumps, 75 cm (30in) tall and 35 to 45 cm (14 to 18in) wide, adorned with fresh and vibrant green foliage, so fine and ornamental that it provides an ideal cradle to welcome its flowery bouquets. From June to August, sturdy stems rise, bearing solitary flower heads measuring 5 to 7 cm (2 to 3in) in diameter, with white, pink or red ligules around a central yellow disc. They emit a scent reminiscent of camphor and are very nectariferous.

Easy to grow in full sun to partial shade, Robinson's Giants pyrethrums add colour and attract butterflies to the garden. Plant them in large groups to harvest plenty of flowers for your bouquets and enliven both the vegetable garden and flower beds or rockeries, under the summer sun. These plants are hardy down to -12°C (10.4°F) and tolerate drought quite well.

The pink chrysanthemum is a close relative of Tanacetum cinerariifolium, famous for its insecticidal properties. Although T. coccineum contains less pyrethrin than T. cinerariifolium, its flowers can be transformed into an insecticide using the same process.