SafePlants

Yarrow (Achillea millefolium)

Yarrow, scientifically known as Achillea millefolium, is a common flowering plant with a rich history and widespread distribution. Often referred to as common yarrow, this herb has been used for various purposes throughout history.

Common Names

• Yarrow
• Common Yarrow
• Milfoil
• Western Yarrow
• Bloodwort
• Carpenter's Weed
• Knight's Milfoil
• Noble Yarrow
• Old Man's Pepper
• Nosebleed
• Carpenter's Grass
• Devil's Nettle
• Devil's Plaything
• Dog Daisy
• Fernweed
• Little Feather

Taxonomy and Nomenclature

• Scientific Name: Achillea millefolium
• Family: Asteraceae (also referred to as Compositae or Sunflower Family)
• Rank: Species

Distribution and Habitat

• Native to temperate regions.
• Common in Europe, Asia, and North America.
• Widely naturalized in the United States.
• Found in all 50 states and Canada.
• Grows freely in grassland, chalk land, roadsides, and other sites.
• Habitat includes open, dry to somewhat moist areas from low to high elevations.

Morphological Characteristics and Growth Habits

• Perennial broadleaf plant with an extensive system of underground creeping stems (rhizomes).
• Herbaceous perennial, typically 30 cm to 70 cm tall.
• Grows to 3 feet tall and has no branches except near the top.
• Has several stems rising from a branched rootstalk.
• Strongly scented.
• Leaves are alternate, aromatic, up to 10 inches long, and very finely divided, creating a soft, feathery texture.
• Leaves are distributed evenly along stems.
• Flowers are small, about 1/4 inch (6 mm) wide, typically white, with 4 to 6 notched petals.
• Flowers cluster together on the heads of the stems to make a large, flat-topped flower head, 2 to 4 inches in diameter.

Ecological Role

• Has a spreading habit.
• Can be considered a weed, particularly in lawns.
• Ornamental varieties can spread easily to fill available space.
• Forms a highly variable interbreeding complex with related native species in North America.

Traditional and Modern Uses

• Ethnobotanic uses among Plains tribes of the United States, including the Pawnee and Chippewa.
• Cosmetic uses.
• Decorative uses.
• Medicinal uses, including treatments for fever, common cold, hay fever, absence of menstruation, dysentery, diarrhea, loss of appetite, and gastrointestinal discomfort.
• Traditional medicine recognizes its ability to stop bleeding.
• Used as a medicine, fumigant, and insecticide.
• Used for wild food.