Pyrethum Plants – Will It Harm Bees?

Q: I am planning to grow pyrethrum plants in my garden to cut down on pesticide use. Do these plants harm bees and diminish pollination?

A: Pyrethrum insecticide is produced from a particular chrysanthemum, Chrysanthemum cinerariifolium. A bug-killing dust can be made from dried and crushed flowers. Pyrethrum can also be extracted and concentrated into an insecticidal oil. This bug killer is considered very safe to use around humans and animals. Fortunately, honeybees are not very attracted to this plant’s flowers. To make insecticide, harvest fresh flowers and dry them thoroughly then grind into a very fine powder with a mortar and pestle.