Common Yarrow Achillea millefolium
Other Common Name(s):
Other plants called Common Yarrow:
- Phonetic Spelling
- ak-ih-LEE-ah mill-ee-FOH-lee-um
- This plant has low severity poison characteristics.
- See below
- Description
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Yarrow is a herbaceous perennial in the Asteraceae (daisy) family Introduced to America from Europe in colonial times. This plant prefers well-drained soil and full sun and it is often found naturalizing in fields and along roadsides. It is a wonderful wildlife plant that attracts butterflies. Makes excellent cut or dried arrangements. Very easy to divide. This plant is moderately salt tolerant. Plants can spread aggressively by rhizomes and they self-seed regularly. After initial bloom, it can be dead-headed back to a lateral flower bud to encourage rebloom. Generally considered too weedy to use in borders but works well as a flowering ground cover in meadows, prairies, and naturalized areas. It can even be a lawn alternative in sunny areas with little foot traffic. It can be unattractive by the end of summer after it blooms and can be pruned back severely or mowed with a rotary mower on the highest setting in naturalized areas. Large clumps should be divided as necessary to maintain healthy and vigorous growth and performance and reduce disease. Cultivars cover a range of flower colors including pinks, reds, creams, yellows and bicolor pastels. Hybrid varieties have been bred for stronger stems and a more erect habit.
The finely divided, pinnatifid to decompoundly pinnatifid, leaves give the plant a soft fern-like texture, making it attractive even when the erect flowering branches are not in season; bloom is from mid to late summer, into early fall. It has a tendency to spread in beds.
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, powdery mildew are rare. Stems can be weak. Wind and rain can flatten plantings, spreads aggressively. It may cause contact dermatitis in some people.
- 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 at the Guilford County Extension Center Pollinator Garden at the Cabarrus County Extension Office Extension Master Gardener℠ Demonstration Garden, Durham Co. 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. The genus was named for the Greek Trojan War hero, Achilles, who was said to use this plant to treat his wounded soldiers.
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Division
- Seed
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Europe, western Asia, North America, garden hybrids
- Fire Risk Rating:
- low flammability
- Wildlife Value:
- Attracts butterflies and bees.
- Play Value:
- Attracts Pollinators
- Easy to Grow
- Particularly Resistant To (Insects/Diseases/Other Problems):
- Deer and rabbit resistant
- Edibility:
- Leaves are bitter, but can be eaten raw or cooked. To make a tea, soak leaves in warm water to remove dirt and debris. Do not use dish detergent or any type of sanitizer. These products can leave a residue. Chop leaves and steep in hot water for 10 minutes. Drink as a tea. SOURCE: Crowhurst, A. 1972. The Weed Cookbook. Lancer Books, Inc. New York, 190 pp.
- 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
- Poisonous
- 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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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 flowers in corymbs. Minute; ray flowers white, red to pink, yellow; more
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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)
- Simple
- 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
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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
- Poisonous to Humans
- Problem for Cats
- Problem for Dogs
- Problem for Horses
- Weedy
