Hixson, John
Achillea millefolium L.
Common yarrow, Yarrow, Milfoil, Western yarrow
Asteraceae (Aster Family)
Yarrow grows to 3 feet tall and has no branches except near the top. The leaves are
alternate, 3-5 inches long, with many leaflets on each side of the
midrib (1- pinnately lobed); and these are further divided into smaller leaflets, giving them a delicate, fernlike, lacy appearance. Flower heads are arranged in large, compact clusters at the top of the
stem, each cluster consisting of 1 or more flower heads. The flower
head has 20-25 yellowish-white (rarely pink)
ray flowers and similarly colored disk flowers.
Achillea millefolium is highly variable and has been treated both as a single species with varieties and as multiple distinct species.
A. millefolium is cosmopolitan throughout the Northern Hemisphere. In North America,
A. millefolium is a complex of both
native and introduced plants and their hybrids.
Image Gallery:
37 photo(s) available
Plant Characteristics
Duration: Perennial Habit: Herb Leaf Shape: Lanceolate Inflorescence: Head Size Notes: 1-3
Leaf: Green
Flower:
Fruit: Size Class: 1-3 ft.
Bloom Information
Bloom Color: White , Pink
Bloom Time: Apr , May , Jun , Jul , Aug , Sep
Bloom Notes: Flowering late Apr–early Jul (south), mid Jul–mid Sep (north)
Distribution
USA: AL , AK , AZ , AR , CA , CO , CT , DE , FL , GA , HI , ID , IL , IN , IA , KS , KY , LA , ME , MD , MA , MI , MN , MS , MO , MT , NE , NV , NH , NJ , NM , NY , NC , ND , OH , OK , OR , PA , RI , SC , SD , TN , TX , UT , VT , VA , WA , WV , WI , WY , DC
Canada: AB ,
BC ,
MB ,
NB ,
NL ,
NT ,
NS ,
NU ,
ON ,
PE ,
QC ,
SK ,
YT Native Distribution: Most of temperate North America.
Native Habitat: Common on disturbed soils throughout Texas.
USDA Native Status: L48(NI), AK(N), HI(I), CAN(NI), GL(N), SPM(NI)
Growing Conditions
Water Use: Medium
Light Requirement: Sun , Part Shade
Soil Moisture: Dry
CaCO3 Tolerance: Medium
Drought Tolerance: High
Benefit
Use Ornamental: This is a good garden plant, as it can be used in fresh or dried arrangements and has a pleasing fragrance. Flat-topped clusters of small, whitish flowers grow at the top of a gray-green, leafy, usually hair, stem.
Use Medicinal: Yarrow was formerly used for medicinal purposes: to break a fever by increasing perspiration, to treat hemorrhaging and as a poultice for rashes. A tea used by
Native Americans to cure stomach disorders was made by steeping the leaves.
Use Other: The foliage has a pleasant smell when crushed.
Conspicuous Flowers: yes
Interesting Foliage: yes
Fragrant Foliage: yes
2012-11-13
