Order Now · Ships Spring 2026
Tanacetum balsamita (costmary)
Tanacetum balsamita (costmary)
Fragrant heirloom · Culinary herb · Silvery leaves · Sweet minty scent
📦 Shipping is charged at real carrier rates.We don’t mark up shipping—costs reflect distance from our nursery and careful plant packing.
🌱 6-plant minimum per order — mix & match any varieties
📦 Ships in a 2⅜” square x 3¾” deep band pot — well-rooted & ready to plant
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🌿 Costmary — Quick Care Guide
☀️ Sun: Full sun
💧 Water: Regular watering; do not allow soil to dry completely
🌱 Soil: Well-drained, moderately fertile
❄️ Hardiness: USDA Zones 2–9
🐝 Pollinators: Attracts bees and beneficial insects
🦌 Deer: Generally deer resistant
📏 Mature Size: ~3 ft. tall × 2 ft. wide
✂️ Pruning: Cut back after flowering to maintain shape
🪴 Containers: Suitable for large containers with good drainage
🌱 Propagation: Easily divided
Tanacetum balsamita, commonly known as costmary, is a traditional culinary and medicinal herb prized for its broad, gray-green leaves and strong, sweet, spearmint-like fragrance. Long valued in historic gardens, this dependable perennial brings both beauty and usefulness to herb beds and cottage-style landscapes.
The softly textured foliage releases its distinctive scent when brushed or harvested, making costmary especially appealing for teas, potpourri, and traditional recipes. In late summer, clusters of small yellow flowers rise above the foliage, adding seasonal interest and attracting pollinators.
Vigorous and easy to grow, costmary forms sturdy clumps that can be divided for propagation, making it a long-lived and generous addition to the garden.
Looking for more traditional and useful herbs? Explore our Culinary & Medicinal Herb Collections for time-tested favorites, or browse our Heirloom Garden Collection for classic plants with historic roots.
WHY GARDENERS LOVE COSTMARY
- Strong minty, balsamic fragrance
- Classic old-fashioned culinary herb
- Attractive silvery green foliage
- Yellow late-summer flowers
- Easy to divide and propagate
- Reliable perennial in cold climates
HOW IT GROWS
- Plant type: Evergreen or herbaceous perennial
- Growth habit: Upright, clump-forming
- Sun: Full sun
- Soil: Well-drained, moderately fertile soil
- Water: Regular watering, especially during establishment
- Hardiness: USDA Zones 2–9
- Additional traits: Pollinator friendly, deer resistant
Costmary performs best in sunny locations with consistent moisture and good drainage.
SIZE & BLOOM
- Height × Width: ~3 ft. × 2 ft.
- Bloom time: Late summer
- Flower color: Yellow
- Foliage: Broad, gray-green, aromatic
- Fragrance: Sweet, minty, balsamic
CULINARY & GARDEN USES
Many gardeners who enjoy costmary also grow culinary favorites like our English Lavender and Moroccan Spearmint for teas and herbal blends.
Costmary is traditionally used for:
- Herbal teas and infusions
- Historic and heirloom herb gardens
- Potpourri and sachets
- Companion planting
- Pollinator-friendly landscapes
Tanacetum balsamita is a timeless herb that brings fragrance, history, and dependable growth to the garden. With proper care, this hardy perennial will thrive for many years and provide abundant aromatic foliage.
POT SIZE: 2⅜” square x 3¾” deep band pot
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What to Expect With Your Plants
What size plants will I receive?
Most plants ship in 2 3/8” x 3 3/4” band pots—ideal for healthy root growth.
Top growth varies by variety and season, but every plant arrives well-rooted, actively growing, and ready to plant.
Grown naturally without artificial heat or lights, our plants are hardy, adaptable, and ready to thrive in real garden conditions.
When will my plants ship?
We schedule plant orders based on your area’s average last frost date and when each plant is truly ready to ship. You’ll receive an email with your estimated ship date once your order is scheduled.
Orders ship Monday–Wednesday via UPS or USPS (2–3 day service), so your plants arrive before the weekend and spend less time in transit. Shipping begins in spring—usually mid-April—when weather and plant health align, so your plants arrive strong, well-rooted, and ready to thrive.
Do you guarantee your plants?
We stand behind our plants and our packing process. While we can't control weather or how plants are cared for after arrival, we do guarantee that your plants will arrive healthy and in good condition. If there's an issue, just reach out and we're happy to help.
Are your plants inspected for plant health and disease?
Yes. Our nursery is inspected at least twice each year by the Oregon Department of Agriculture and meets state plant health and disease standards.
Why does shipping cost what it does for live plants?
Shipping live plants requires careful packaging, seasonal timing, and fast transit to ensure they arrive healthy.
Our shipping rates are calculated in real time based on box size, weight, and destination, and we always select the best available option for safe, timely delivery.
We never inflate shipping costs — you pay what it costs us to ship your order safely.
Have more questions?
We want you to feel good about your plant order. Find answers about shipping, sizing, care, and guarantees in our full FAQ.