ArtsAutosBooksBusinessEducationEntertainmentFamilyFashionFoodGamesGenderHealthHolidaysHomeHubPagesPersonal FinancePetsPoliticsReligionSportsTechnologyTravel

Plant Spotlight: Yarrow (Achillea Millefolium)

Updated on June 5, 2015
LisaRoppolo profile image

Lisa is a writer and gardener with extensive knowledge of plants and plant care. Her articles focus on easy-care tips for home gardeners.

The Humble Yarrow

Yarrow (Achillea Millefolium) is a member of the Aster family of plants (others are mums and chamomile). This perennial is prized in cottage gardens and butterfly gardens, but I find it is an under-used plant outside of these applications. The erect plant grows to about 3 and a half feet tall, with upright, hairy and fern-like leaves. It produces a wonderful flower head, very similar in looks to Wild Parsnip and Queen Anne's Lace. Butterflies and Bees go crazy for the flowers, which typically bloom from May through June. Deadheading the spent blooms will ensure a second bloom period.

Common White Yarrow
Common White Yarrow | Source

Yarrow Habitat

Yarrow is commonly found in wildflower settings, meadows and forests. It likes full sun to part sun and isn't fussy about the type of soil. It is a very drought tolerant plant, but can take moisture just as well. A very easy plant to grow.

Yarrow Poll

Do you have Yarrow growing in your garden?

See results

Yarrow Origins

Yarrow is mostly considered an ornamental plant these days, but historically is was used as a medicinal plant. Topically, it was used to treat wounds, cuts and abrasions. One of it's nicknames, Woundwort, enforces this use. In mythology, the Greek hero Achilles uses Yarrow to stop the bleeding of his soldiers after battle. Yarrow promotes blood clotting.

The essential oil extraction of the Yarrow plant is used as an anti-inflammatory and for colds/flu as a chest rub (used like Vicks Vapor Rub).

Native Americans would chew the leaves for toothaches, as it is believed to also be an effective pain reliever.

In the Middle Ages, Yarrow was used to flavor beer before the discovery of hops.

Some people may be allergic to Yarrow, so it is best if you test a small area on your arm by rubbing the leaves and waiting to see if there is a reaction.

**Also, if you plan on ingesting it, please ask your health care advisor about possible drug interactions.

Coronation Gold and Paprika Varieties
Coronation Gold and Paprika Varieties | Source
Yarrow inter-planted with Daisy in cottage garden
Yarrow inter-planted with Daisy in cottage garden | Source

When Yarrow Goes to Seed

If you allow your yarrow to go to seed, expect it to pop up everywhere! It is a very prolific self-seeder and can become invasive.

Coronation Gold Variety
Coronation Gold Variety | Source

Yarrow Propagation

Yarrow is exceptionally easy to grow from seed, so you don't need to run out and purchase live plants. This will save you money, as seeds are much cheaper than plants. If you are on a budget, you can always check your local free-cycle ads to see if anyone has any seeds to share from their own garden.

Yarrow seeds need light to germinate, so scatter the seeds on the surface of the soil and barely cover. Seeds require temperatures between 65 and 75 degrees for proper germination.

Seedlings emerge in about two weeks and they grow rapidly in the heat of early summer. You will be covered in flowers in no time!

Yarrow make excellent cut flowers and are long-lived in the vase.

Yarrow-Coronation Gold Variety
Yarrow-Coronation Gold Variety | Source

Yarrow By Any Other Name...

There are many common names that Yarrow goes by:

  • Woundwort
  • Bloodwort
  • Carpenter's Weed
  • Death Flower
  • Devil's Nettle (people used to believe the plant was "of the Devil")
  • Field Hops
  • Milefoil
  • Sanguinary



Did You Know?

  • Some bird species use it to line their nests. The thought among scientists suggest the essential oils of the plant repel certain insects.
  • Yarrow improves erosion control.
  • Yarrow Improves the condition of the soil it is planted in.
  • Yarrow repels bad bugs in the garden and because of this, improves the health of other plants that are planted near it.

Yarrow "Paprika"
Yarrow "Paprika" | Source

Yarrow Article Feedback

Was this article on Yarrow helpful?

See results

© 2014 Lisa Roppolo

working

This website uses cookies

As a user in the EEA, your approval is needed on a few things. To provide a better website experience, hubpages.com uses cookies (and other similar technologies) and may collect, process, and share personal data. Please choose which areas of our service you consent to our doing so.

For more information on managing or withdrawing consents and how we handle data, visit our Privacy Policy at: https://corp.maven.io/privacy-policy

Show Details
Necessary
HubPages Device IDThis is used to identify particular browsers or devices when the access the service, and is used for security reasons.
LoginThis is necessary to sign in to the HubPages Service.
Google RecaptchaThis is used to prevent bots and spam. (Privacy Policy)
AkismetThis is used to detect comment spam. (Privacy Policy)
HubPages Google AnalyticsThis is used to provide data on traffic to our website, all personally identifyable data is anonymized. (Privacy Policy)
HubPages Traffic PixelThis is used to collect data on traffic to articles and other pages on our site. Unless you are signed in to a HubPages account, all personally identifiable information is anonymized.
Amazon Web ServicesThis is a cloud services platform that we used to host our service. (Privacy Policy)
CloudflareThis is a cloud CDN service that we use to efficiently deliver files required for our service to operate such as javascript, cascading style sheets, images, and videos. (Privacy Policy)
Google Hosted LibrariesJavascript software libraries such as jQuery are loaded at endpoints on the googleapis.com or gstatic.com domains, for performance and efficiency reasons. (Privacy Policy)
Features
Google Custom SearchThis is feature allows you to search the site. (Privacy Policy)
Google MapsSome articles have Google Maps embedded in them. (Privacy Policy)
Google ChartsThis is used to display charts and graphs on articles and the author center. (Privacy Policy)
Google AdSense Host APIThis service allows you to sign up for or associate a Google AdSense account with HubPages, so that you can earn money from ads on your articles. No data is shared unless you engage with this feature. (Privacy Policy)
Google YouTubeSome articles have YouTube videos embedded in them. (Privacy Policy)
VimeoSome articles have Vimeo videos embedded in them. (Privacy Policy)
PaypalThis is used for a registered author who enrolls in the HubPages Earnings program and requests to be paid via PayPal. No data is shared with Paypal unless you engage with this feature. (Privacy Policy)
Facebook LoginYou can use this to streamline signing up for, or signing in to your Hubpages account. No data is shared with Facebook unless you engage with this feature. (Privacy Policy)
MavenThis supports the Maven widget and search functionality. (Privacy Policy)
Marketing
Google AdSenseThis is an ad network. (Privacy Policy)
Google DoubleClickGoogle provides ad serving technology and runs an ad network. (Privacy Policy)
Index ExchangeThis is an ad network. (Privacy Policy)
SovrnThis is an ad network. (Privacy Policy)
Facebook AdsThis is an ad network. (Privacy Policy)
Amazon Unified Ad MarketplaceThis is an ad network. (Privacy Policy)
AppNexusThis is an ad network. (Privacy Policy)
OpenxThis is an ad network. (Privacy Policy)
Rubicon ProjectThis is an ad network. (Privacy Policy)
TripleLiftThis is an ad network. (Privacy Policy)
Say MediaWe partner with Say Media to deliver ad campaigns on our sites. (Privacy Policy)
Remarketing PixelsWe may use remarketing pixels from advertising networks such as Google AdWords, Bing Ads, and Facebook in order to advertise the HubPages Service to people that have visited our sites.
Conversion Tracking PixelsWe may use conversion tracking pixels from advertising networks such as Google AdWords, Bing Ads, and Facebook in order to identify when an advertisement has successfully resulted in the desired action, such as signing up for the HubPages Service or publishing an article on the HubPages Service.
Statistics
Author Google AnalyticsThis is used to provide traffic data and reports to the authors of articles on the HubPages Service. (Privacy Policy)
ComscoreComScore is a media measurement and analytics company providing marketing data and analytics to enterprises, media and advertising agencies, and publishers. Non-consent will result in ComScore only processing obfuscated personal data. (Privacy Policy)
Amazon Tracking PixelSome articles display amazon products as part of the Amazon Affiliate program, this pixel provides traffic statistics for those products (Privacy Policy)
ClickscoThis is a data management platform studying reader behavior (Privacy Policy)