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Achillea millefolium
Also called Common yarrow, Milfoil, Bloodwort, Carpenter's Weed, Western Yarrow, Milenrama, Yarrow, Milfoil
Yarrow is a hardy, drought-tolerant perennial with fern-like leaves and flat clusters of small white to pink flowers. It spreads by rhizomes and does best in full sun and well-drained soil.
Achillea millefolium, commonly known as yarrow () or common yarrow, is a flowering plant in the family Asteraceae. Growing to 1 metre (3+1⁄3 feet) tall, it is characterized by small whitish flowers, a tall stem of fernlike leaves, and a pungent odor.
The plant is native to temperate regions of Eurasia and North America. It has been introduced as feed for livestock in New Zealand and Australia. It has some potential uses, including in traditional medicine.
Achillea millefolium is cultivated as an ornamental plant by many plant nurseries. It is planted in gardens and natural landscaping settings of diverse climates and styles. They include native plant, drought-tolerant, and wildlife gardens. The plant is a frequent component of butterfly gardens. The plant prefers well-drained soil in full sun, but can be grown in less ideal conditions. Field trials in Kansas found yarrow produced an average yield of 110,000 plants per hectare (43,000/acre), with a total dry weight of 11,800 kg/ha (10,500 pounds per acre).
Yarrow can cause allergic skin rashes.
According to the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, yarrow is toxic to dogs, cats, and horses, causing increased urination, vomiting, diarrhea and dermatitis. When consumed by cows, an unfavorable flavor is given to their milk.
Yarrow is native to temperate regions of the Northern Hemisphere, being found in Europe, Asia, and North America.
Achillea aegyptiaca · Yarrow · Sweet-Nancy · Fernleaf yarrow · Cottonweed · Sneezewort · Yellow Milfoil
Text excerpted from the Wikipedia article Achillea millefolium by its contributors, under CC BY-SA 4.0; the excerpts and the care summary drawn from them are shared under the same licence.
The care summary was written by AI (Claude, Anthropic) from the sources on this page, with general growing knowledge where they are silent. Check before relying on it.
Life form, climate and native range: World Checklist of Vascular Plants, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew (CC BY 3.0), reformatted; see Plants of the World Online.
Pet safety from the ASPCA toxic and non-toxic plant lists.
