Common name: Common Yarrow

Scientific name: Achillea millefolium

Description

Achillea millefolium is a native plant that grows throughout much of North America, as well as Europe and Western Asia. Common Yarrow has a fragrant leaf with about one-inch wide, flat-topped or dome-shaped flower clusters of small white flowers. Leaves are divided into many smaller leaflets giving yarrow a fern-like appearance. Hairs cover the stem and leaves making the plant gray blue in color. In addition to Common Yarrow, there are many cultivated varieties, comprised of white, yellow, gold, pink, or red flowers, available to homeowners for use in the landscape. Under ideal conditions, Yarrow can be expected to live for approximately 10 years.

Native Region: North America, Europe, and Western Asia

Benefits: attracts pollinators, attracts beneficial insects, wildlife food source, used in landscaping, used in bouquets, and used in erosion control of steep slopes

Life Cycle: Perennial

Growth Type: Herbaceous Perennial

Bloom Period: May to October

History: Native American tribes and Greeks believed it had medicinal properties, the plant was mashed, poulticed, or steeped in tea

Propagation Information:

• Plants spread by rhizomes and can reproduce into rhizomatous patches. Be careful not to disturb the crown in late winter.
• Flower heads will turn brown and become hard when seeds are ready to be harvested. Seeds need one month of cold stratification and direct sunlight for germination.

Needs:

• Light: Prefers full sun
• Water: Dry to medium, well drained
• Soil: Sand or clay; neutral, alkaline, or acidic; tolerates poor soils well
• Size: 2-3 feet tall and 2-3 feet wide
• Ecosystem: pastures, grasslands, woodlands, open forests, prairies, fallow fields, pathway edges, and exposed ridges

Sources:

• USDA
  Natural Resources Conservation Service - Common Yarrow.

• Missouri Botanical Gardens
  Missouri Botanical Garden - Achillea millefolium

Common Yarrow.