SafePlants

Achillea millefolium (Common Yarrow)

Achillea millefolium, commonly known as yarrow or common yarrow, is a flowering plant belonging to the Asteraceae family.

Considerations for Pets

• The plant has a strong scent that might be interesting to pets.
• It can spread easily to fill available space.

Considerations for Children

• The plant has a strong scent.
• It can spread easily to fill available space.

Taxonomy and Nomenclature

• Scientific Name: Achillea millefolium
• Family: Asteraceae (also referred to as Compositae)
• 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.

Distribution and Habitat

• Native to temperate regions of the world, particularly common in Europe, Asia, and North America.
• Widely naturalized in the United States and found throughout all 50 states and Canada.
• Grows freely in grassland, chalk land, roadsides, and other sites with well-drained soil.
• Common in open, dry to somewhat moist areas from low to high elevations, tolerant of disturbance.
• Ornamental varieties are not native, but Western yarrow is indigenous to North America.
• Originates from Eurasia, with western yarrow being native to certain areas.

Morphological Characteristics and Growth Habits

• A hardy perennial herb, typically 30 cm to 70 cm tall.
• Has several stems rising from a branched rootstalk.
• Leaves are alternate, aromatic, up to 10 inches long, very finely divided creating a soft, feathery texture. They are distributed evenly along the stem.
• Grows to 3 feet tall and has no branches except near the top.
• Spreading mats of fern-like rosettes.
• Flowers from June to September.
• Flowers are about 6 mm wide, typically white with 4 to 6 petals, and cluster together on the heads of the stems to make a large, flat-topped flower head of 2 to 4 inches.

Ecological Role

• Has a spreading habit and can fill available space easily.

Quirky Facts

• Yarrow has a long history of use, including as a love charm.
• It has been known by colorful names such as "Old Man's Pepper" and "Devil's Plaything".
• Breeders have expanded its color range to include varieties beyond the typical white.

Uses

• Has cosmetic, decorative, and medicinal uses. Cosmetic uses include an application.
• Ethnobotanic uses include traditional use by the Pawnee and Chippewa tribes of the Plains region of the United States.
• Used for fever, common cold, hay fever, absence of menstruation, dysentery, diarrhea, loss of appetite, gastrointestinal (GI) tract discomfort.
• Known in traditional medicine for its ability to stop bleeding.
• Used as a medicine, fumigant, and insecticide.