Achillea m. 'Island Pink', Island Pink Yarrow

Achillea m. 'Island Pink', Island Pink Yarrow

A perennial yarrow that grows up to one foot high and spreads up to three feet wide by rhizomes. It is native to Santa Cruz Island. Clusters of bright pink flowers bloom Spring through Summer.

Yarrow has deep roots that mine the subsoil for potassium, calcium, copper, phosphorus and magnesium, which makes this plant a nutrient rich mulch.  

Known as herbal militaris, for its use in staunching the flow of blood from wounds.  Native Americans had many uses for the plant, including pain relief, fever reduction, and blood issues of all kinds.  You can also use this to calm and heal rashes, bug bites, bee stings, cuts, and burns.  

You can dry the flowers and use them as confetti in batter.

A really great native to attract insects like hoverflies.  Hoverflie larvae eat aphids as their primary food source, they are so tiny that the naked eye cannot see them underneath leaves.  Adult hoverflies pollinate plants and feed mainly on nectar.