Achillea millefolium
Common Name(s):
- Phonetic Spelling
- ak-ih-LEE-ah mill-ee-FOH-lee-um
- Description
-
Yarrow is an herbaceous perennial in the daisy family (Asteraceae) native to temperate regions of Europe, Asia and North America. It is found in disturbed areas as fields and roadsides. The Genus name is derived from the mythical Greek character Achilles, who reportedly carried it with his army to treat battle wounds. The specific epithet comes from the featherlike leaves.
This plant will grow 1 to 3 feet tall and wide and prefers well-drained soil and full sun. It is poor soils and drought tolerant and moderately salt tolerant. Plants can spread aggressively by rhizomes and seeds and are easily divided. Deadhead flowers to prolong blooming and minimize spread by seed.
The tiny radial and disc whitish flowers occur in flat-topped corymbs in dense heads in early to mid-summer into fall. The leaves give the plant a soft fern-like texture, making it attractive even when the erect flowering branches are not in season.
It may be too weedy for flower bed borders and a cultivar is a better choice. Use this plant in naturalized settings, as a ground cover or a lawn alternative in low-foot traffic areas. They also make good cut and dried flowers and attract many pollinators. Avoid planting where your pets are and wear gloves to prevent contact dermatitis.
Quick ID Hints:
- Leaves pinnatifid, fern-like in appearance.
- Inflorescence terminal, small heads in a dense umbel.
Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: Stem rot and powdery mildew are rare. Spreads aggressively. Root rot in too-wet soils
- See this plant in the following landscapes:
- Vegetable, Herb and Mostly Native Pollinator Garden Dry Stream Bed Garden in Cabarrus County Cabarrus County Poolside Garden Crevice Garden, Guilford County Extension Demonstration Garden Cabarrus County Extension Demonstration Garden, Pollinators Durham County Extension Master Gardener℠ Demonstration Garden Pollinator Garden in Partial Shade Herb & Flower Cottage Garden Daylilies Galore, Cabarrus County
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- 'Apricot Delight'
Shades raning from pink, apricot to near red. - 'Cerise Queen'
Magenta color. - 'Galaxy'
Galaxy series is available in a variety of colors, other parent is A. Taygetea - 'New Vintage Rose'
- 'Paprika'
Brick red flowers with yellow centers - 'Peachy Seduction'
Peachy-pink Color - 'Pink Grapefruit'
Deep rose fading to pink - 'Red Velvet'
Fade resistant red flowers - 'Salmon Beauty'
Salmon-pink flowers that fade to creamy yellow - 'Saucy Seduction'
Rose-pink with tiny white centers - 'Strawberry Seduction'
Red flowers with gold centers - 'Summer Pastels'
Shades of red, pink, yellow, orange, salmon, lilac, purple and white
- 'Apricot Delight'
- 'Apricot Delight', 'Cerise Queen', 'Galaxy', 'New Vintage Rose', 'Paprika', 'Peachy Seduction', 'Pink Grapefruit', 'Red Velvet', 'Salmon Beauty', 'Saucy Seduction', 'Strawberry Seduction', 'Summer Pastels'
- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- 'Apricot Delight'
Shades raning from pink, apricot to near red. - 'Cerise Queen'
Magenta color. - 'Galaxy'
Galaxy series is available in a variety of colors, other parent is A. Taygetea - 'New Vintage Rose'
- 'Paprika'
Brick red flowers with yellow centers - 'Peachy Seduction'
Peachy-pink Color - 'Pink Grapefruit'
Deep rose fading to pink - 'Red Velvet'
Fade resistant red flowers - 'Salmon Beauty'
Salmon-pink flowers that fade to creamy yellow - 'Saucy Seduction'
Rose-pink with tiny white centers - 'Strawberry Seduction'
Red flowers with gold centers - 'Summer Pastels'
Shades of red, pink, yellow, orange, salmon, lilac, purple and white
- 'Apricot Delight'
- 'Apricot Delight', 'Cerise Queen', 'Galaxy', 'New Vintage Rose', 'Paprika', 'Peachy Seduction', 'Pink Grapefruit', 'Red Velvet', 'Salmon Beauty', 'Saucy Seduction', 'Strawberry Seduction', 'Summer Pastels'
- Tags:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Achillea
- Species:
- millefolium
- Family:
- Asteraceae
- Uses (Ethnobotany):
- Used for medicinal purposes by Native Americans to break a fever, soothe a rash, or treat hemorrhaging or stomach aches.
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Division
- Seed
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Europe, western Asia, North America,
- Distribution:
- USA: AK , AL , AR , AZ , CA , CO , CT , DC , DE , FL , GA , IA , ID , IL , IN , KS , KY , LA , MA , MD , ME , MI , MN , MO , MS , MT , NC , ND , NE , NH , NJ , NM , NV , NY , OH , OK , OR , PA , RI , SC , SD , TN , TX , UT , VA , VT , WA , WI , WV , WY Canada: AB , BC , MB , NB , NL , NS , NT , NU , ON , PE , QC , SK , YT
- Fire Risk Rating:
- low flammability
- Wildlife Value:
- Attracts butterflies and bees and other insects.
- Play Value:
- Attracts Pollinators
- Easy to Grow
- Particularly Resistant To (Insects/Diseases/Other Problems):
- Deer and rabbit resistant
- Edibility:
- Leaves and flowers are bitter, but can be eaten raw or cooked in moderation. They are used in salads and to make teas. The flowers and leaves are used in making some liquors and bitters.
- Dimensions:
- Height: 1 ft. 0 in. - 3 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 1 ft. 0 in. - 3 ft. 10 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Ground Cover
- Herbaceous Perennial
- Wildflower
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Habit/Form:
- Erect
- Prostrate
- Spreading
- Growth Rate:
- Rapid
- Maintenance:
- Low
- Medium
- Texture:
- Fine
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Soil Texture:
- High Organic Matter
- Loam (Silt)
- Sand
- Soil pH:
- Neutral (6.0-8.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Occasionally Dry
- Occasionally Wet
- Available Space To Plant:
- 12 inches-3 feet
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Mountains
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 3a, 3b, 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b
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Fruit:
- Fruit Type:
- Achene
- Fruit Length:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Width:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Description:
- The small achene-like fruits are called cypsela
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Cream/Tan
- Gold/Yellow
- Orange
- Pink
- Purple/Lavender
- Red/Burgundy
- White
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Corymb
- Head
- Umbel
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Good Cut
- Good Dried
- Long Bloom Season
- Long-lasting
- Showy
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Summer
- Flower Petals:
- 4-5 petals/rays
- Flower Size:
- < 1 inch
- Flower Description:
- June to September numerous long-lasting tiny whitish ray and disc flowers in corymbs.
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Leaf Color:
- Gray/Silver
- Green
- Leaf Feel:
- Soft
- Leaf Value To Gardener:
- Fragrant
- Good Dried
- Leaf Type:
- Compound (Pinnately , Bipinnately, Palmately)
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Alternate
- Rosulate
- Leaf Shape:
- Lanceolate
- Oblong
- Leaf Margin:
- Lobed
- Hairs Present:
- Yes
- Leaf Length:
- 1-3 inches
- Leaf Width:
- < 1 inch
- Leaf Description:
- Narrowly oblong to lance-shaped aromatic with a strong spicy aroma. Deeply divided fern-like, medium green foliage. In a basal rosette with cauline leaves alternate, simple, pinnatifid and deeply divided, petioles elongate on lower leaves to sessile on upper leaves.
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Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Green
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- Yes
- Stem Buds:
- Hairy
-
-
Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Lawn
- Meadow
- Naturalized Area
- Rock Wall
- Landscape Theme:
- Butterfly Garden
- Cottage Garden
- Drought Tolerant Garden
- Garden for the Blind
- Pollinator Garden
- Rock Garden
- Design Feature:
- Border
- Mass Planting
- Attracts:
- Bees
- Butterflies
- Pollinators
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Deer
- Drought
- Dry Soil
- Heat
- Humidity
- Pollution
- Rabbits
- Salt
- Problems:
- Contact Dermatitis
- Problem for Cats
- Problem for Dogs
- Problem for Horses
- Weedy
