bess, butterflies & feverfew

[Thehedgehog]

I have a wildlife garden full of native wild plants and other plants rich in nectar & pollen to support pollinating insects

I have feverfew in the garden and I recently read that it repels bees & other insects

Searches are inconclusive and some sites say it attracts bees & other sites say it repels them due to the pyrethrums in it.
So, what should I do? It will start flowering soon and if it has a negative effect on the bees & other beneficial insects, it will be removed.

[aeshna5]

I've had this in gardens + seemed to attract hoverflies, etc. I suspect the foliage is relatively unpalatable to many insects, but it won't deter them coming in the garden. I would leave it- it's attractive.

[Geoff F]

Marigolds are high in pyrethrum which is why I grow them inside my greenhouse to prevent whitefly, but bees and hoverflies love to feed from the nectar.

I suspect it might just be the sap, in the green bits, which is a problem to flies.

Certainly, I haven't had any whiteflies since I started using marigolds several years ago.

Feverfew probably works in a similar manner as Aeshna said.

Incidentally, feverfew is supposed to be a remedy for migraine - but I'm not advising anyone to test this theory.

[aeshna5]

Originally Posted by Geoff F

Marigolds are high in pyrethrum which is why I grow them inside my greenhouse to prevent whitefly, but bees and hoverflies love to feed from the nectar.

I suspect it might just be the sap, in the green bits, which is a problem to flies.

Certainly, I haven't had any whiteflies since I started using marigolds several years ago.

Feverfew probably works in a similar manner as Aeshna said.

Incidentally, feverfew is supposed to be a remedy for migraine - but I'm not advising anyone to test this theory.

I have chewed Feverfew leaves on a couple of occasions- rather flowery taste to the leaves. Fortunately I've not had a migraine for many years.